Specific hydrolysis of methionyl-tRNA Met f catalyzed by a purified peptide

Methionyl-tRNA-Met-f deacylase. Purification, characterization, and effects on translational initiation complexes

A methionyl-tRNA-Met-f deacylase was found in ribosomal salt wash from cultured human cells of the HeLa line. This enzyme was purified by the use of DEAE-cellulose, ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration and isoelectric focusing, and appears to be a protein with a native molecular weight of 80,000, which consists of two 40,000-Mr subunits. The mechanism of the Met-tRNA-Met-f deacylase is shown to involve end-product inhibition by the deacylated form of Met-tRNA-Met-f. The methionyl-tRNA-Met-f deacylase is rather specific for Met-tRNA-Met-f as opposed to Met-tRNA-Met-m, has a KCl optimum of 85 mM, is inhibited by MgCl2 and is inhibited by GTP and NAD+ at physiological concentration. 40-S and 60-S subunits inhibit the enzyme, possibly by binding to it. The stability of translational initiation complexes, containing methionyl-tRNA-Met-f, was investigated in the presence of the enzyme. Purified ternary complex was slowly broken down by the enzyme, while the 40-S-subunit . Met-tRNA-Met-f complex was stable in the presence of enzyme. The 80-S complex formed with A-U-G trinucleotide as the message molecule was broken down, whereas the 80-S complex formed with globin mRNA was stable in the presence of the enzyme. The physiological role of this enzyme is unclear, but it might act to regulate initiation by deacylating Met-tRNA-Met-f.

Purification and some properties of a protein factor binding and deacylating initiator transfer ribonucleic acid

1. A protein factor promoting the binding of initiator tRNA to the 40S ribosomal subunit was purified to homogeneity (more than 2500-fold) from rat liver cytosol. It has a mol.wt. of 265000 and is composed of four subunits of identical molecular weight. 2. This factor directs the binding of methionyl-tRNA(fMet) and to a lesser extent also of N-acetylphenylalanyl-tRNA, but not of methionyl-tRNA(Met) or phenylalanyl-tRNA, to the smaller ribosomal subunit at high concentrations of GTP (8-10mm) with an optimum at pH4.0. As evidenced by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation, initiator tRNA becomes bound to the 40S subunit or to 80S ribosomes. 3. A deacylase activity specific for methionyl-tRNA(fMet) is associated with the pure factor. The factor significantly stimulates the translation of natural message in systems containing polyribosomes and both purified peptide-elongation factors. 4. The factor binds initiator tRNA or GTP to form unstable binary complexes and forms a ternary complex with methionyl-tRNA(fMet) and GTP. This complex is relatively stable. 5. In the absence of any cofactors the factor forms a stable complex with 40S and 80S ribosomes. This preformed ribosomal complex binds efficiently initiator tRNA at pH7.5 and low concentrations of GTP (1-2mm). The ternary complex of the factor with methionyl-tRNA(fMet) and GTP may be liberated from this ribosomal complex. 6. A protein factor capable of promoting the binding and simultaneously the deacylation of initiator tRNA may apparently have a regulatory function in physiological gene translation by removing an excess of methionyl-tRNA(fMet) not required for translation.

All factors required for protein synthesis are retained on heparin bound to Sepharose

1. Postmitochondrial supernatants of rabbit reticulocyte lysates were chromatographed on heparin bound to Sepharose 4B, and the fraction retained on affinity columns was separated by subsequent gel filtration on Sepharose 4B into three fractions, two of them active in protein synthesis. 2. The heavier fraction sedimented at 40S and contained more than 10% RNA. This consisted predominantly of a 12S component, with smaller amounts of the 9S and 4S RNA species. The lighter fraction (18-20S) was composed of proteins with less than 1% RNA. 3. Different enzymic activities were associated with these fractions. 4. In the presence of both fractions, efficient translation took place on combined ribosomal subunits of rat liver with added cofactors. Globin messenger ribonucleoprotein stimulated this translation 5-6-fold. 5. Relatively large complexes of all factors required for protein synthesis are apparently isolated from reticulocytes by affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose 4B. Such complexes may occur naturally in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells.

Initiation of protein synthesis in eukaryotes. Binding to Sepharose-heparin and partial purification of initiation factors from Krebs II ascites cells

By means of affinity chromatography of lysates from Krebs II ascites cells and rabbit reticulocytes on Sepharose-heparin an active fraction of initiation factors has been obtained. The fraction is eluted from the column at 350 mM KCl using a linear gradient and displays a number of activities, i.e. binding of Met-tRNAfMet to form a ternary complex with GTP; transferring this complex to 40-S subunits in an A-U-G-independent step and finally coupling of the 40-S initiation complex to the 60-S subunit, a reaction which is completely A-U-G-dependent. Moreover, MettRNA is bound into the P-site as is indicated by its puromycin sensitivity. The method is very suitable for large-scale preparation. Further purification and characterization of the factors have been carried out on DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose columns. Evidence is presented that the polysomes present in a lysate that has been passed through the Sepharose-heparin column can only complete their nascent chains, initiation of new polypeptides is completely dependent on addition of initiation factors.