Genetic and biochemical analysis of cycloheximide resistance in the fungus Podospora anserina

Genetic analysis of cycloheximide-resistant mutants has shown that at least three genes control the resistance to cycloheximide in Podospora anserina and that the antibiotic resistance is recessive to sensitivity. In vitro and in vivo studies of protein synthesis indicated that for two mutants cycloheximide resistance is associated with the ribosomes. For one of these mutants, the elongation step in protein biosynthesis is insensitive to cycloheximide over a wide range of concentration. In this mutant the resistance to cycloheximide is a property of the 60S subunit.

Testing with puromycin and amino acyl tRNAs that limit the rate of peptide chain extension

With puromycin one can recognize when the synthesis of a given protein is dependent on amino acyl tRNA that is present in rate limiting amount. We demonstrate this use of puromycin by its interaction with another inhibitor, L-o-methylthreonine. L-o-methylthreonine lowers the Ile-tRNA concentration in the cell, thereby inhibiting synthesis of proteins containing isoleucine. In certain rabbits, the alpha hemoglobin chain has three isoleucyl residues and the beta chain none. L-o-methylthreonine thus inhibits alpha globin synthesis in intact reticulocytes from these rabbits. When puromycin and L-o-methylthreonine are used together, the two inhibitors synergize in inhibiting alpha globin synthesis. Hence, puromycin is a more effective inhibitor when the Ile-tRNA concentration is lowered. Cycloheximide and sodium fluoride have different modes of action from puromycin. Neither synergizes with L-o-methylthreonine; instead, the interaction is less than additive. We have found that beta chain synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes is more sensitive than alpha to inhibition by puromycin. This difference could reflect either differences in amino acid sequence or tRNA dependent limitations of beta chain elongation. The switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin in humans does not involve changes in limiting amino acyl tRNA because, for cord blood from infants of different developmental ages, the puromycin sensitivity of incorporation into gamma and beta chains remains constant.

Experimentally induced and natural recovery from the effects of phenylalanine on brain protein synthesis

The decrease in the neural polyribosomes produced during hyperphenylalaninemia could not be restored to normal levels by the injection of other single neutral amino acids. All of the neutral amino acids that are transported with phenylalanine were found to produce an alteration of neural polyribosomes similar to that measured with phenylalanine. However, the injection of a balanced mixture of 6 or 7 neutral amino acids could restore the brain polyribosomes to normal states. Although this experimentally induced recovery did not lower brain phenylalanine concentrations, it did restore the acylation levels of methionyl-tRNA, and in particular, the methionyl-tRNA initiator species. This also led to a concomitant stimulation of the elongation rate of brain polypeptide synthesis. A natural recovery of brain polyribosomal levels (occurring 2 h after 1 mg/g phenylalanine is injected) did not appear to represent a real recovery of neural protein metabolism. Phenylalanine concentrations were increased in the brain, the acylation levels of methionyl-tRNA, alanyl-tRNA and the initiator methionyl-tRNA remained altered, and the rate of ribosome translocation was decreased 28%.

The mode of action of alpha sarcin and a novel assay of the puromycin reaction

A new technique was developed for measuring the amount of peptidyl-tRNA in a protein-synthesizing system in vitro. By this technique the course of the puromycin reaction may be followed and the modes of action of various inhibitors of protein synthesis readily determined. We conclude that the polypeptide alpha sarcin inhibits the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA into the ribosomal 'A' site, that sparsomycin inhibits the peptidyl transferase reaction and that cycloheximide may block translocation.

Evidence for acceleration of the rate of elongation of tyrosine aminotransferase nascent chains by dibutyryl cyclic AMP

Analogs of cyclic AMP elevate the synthesis of tyrosine aminotransferase (L-tyrosine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase; EC 2.6.1.5) in cultured hepatoma cells and rat liver at a post-transcriptional level but have no discernible effect on total soluble protein synthesis. In order to determine whether cyclic AMP exerts its effect on a step before or after initiation of the synthesis of this enzyme, we have analyzed the ribosomal transit times for both the aminotransferase and total soluble protein in hepatoma cells incubated in the presence or absence of N(6),O(2)'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The time required for one ribosome to translate one subunit of the "average" soluble protein (transit time) was about 2 min in cells incubated with or without the cyclic AMP analog. In contrast, the transit time for tyrosine aminotransferase was found to be reduced from 5-8 min under basal conditions to as low as 45 sec after exposure to dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Although the degree of effect varied from experiment to experiment, the relative rate of aminotransferase nascent chain elongation was found to be proportional to the stimulation of its activity. In contrast, dexamethasone did not alter the rate of aminotransferase elongation even though it elevated enzyme activity between 5- and 10-fold. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that induction of tyrosine aminotransferase with cyclic AMP analogs occurs by stimulation of the rate at which ribosomes translate pre-existing mRNA in contrast to adrenal steroids which act by increasing the level of translatable mRNA coding for this enzyme.

Inhibition of host protein synthesis in vaccinia virus-infected cells in the presence of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine)

Cordycepin inhibited efficiently viral mRNA and polyadenylic acid syntheses in vaccinia virus-infected cells, but allowed the shutoff of host protein synthesis to occur. Therefore, cordycepin was used to study this shutoff in the absence of gene expression. Ribosome transit time was increased in infected cells, revealing an inhibition at the level of elongation and/or release of polypeptide chains. However, the disappearance of heavy polysomes in vaccinia virus-infected cells showed that the inhibition of host protein synthesis resulted predominantly from a block at the stage of initiation. This conclusion was confirmed by the recovery of heavy polyribosomes when low levels of cycloheximide were added to slow down ribosome release from the mRNA. Similar amounts of cellular mRNA (present in the polyribosomes) were found in vaccinia virus-infected cells and in mock-infected cels (exposed to cordycepin), showing that the cellular mRNA was not inactivated in these conditions. It was concluded that a component of the vaccinia virion inhibits, in the absence of viral RNA and polyadenylic acid syntheses, host protein synthesis at the level of initiation and, to a lesser extent, at the level of elongation (and/or release) of polypeptide chains.

Streptomycin causes misreading of natural messenger by interacting with ribosomes after initiation

The induction of misreading by streptomycin in vitro, previously observed with synthetic messengers, is now demonstrated with natural (endogenous or viral) messenger by the use of extracts of temperature sensitive mutants lacking Glu--tRNA or Val--tRNA synthetase. With chain-elongating but noninitiating ribosomes (i.e., purified polysomes) deprived of an aminoacyl--tRNA, streptomycin and other aminoglycosides, over a wide range of concentrations, stimulate incorporation. With ribosomes initiating in the presence of streptomycin stimulation is also observed but it is restricted, just like phenotypic suppression in cells, to very low streptomycin concentrattions which evidently allow some ribosomes to initiate and later encounter them in the course of chain elongation. The stimulation is accompanied by an increase in the size of the products; hence, it is evidently due to substitution of an incorrect aminoacyl--tRNA for a missing one. The test introduced here also has revealed a misreading effect of streptomycin on resistant ribosomes. In addition, significant intrinsic misreading was observed without streptomycin, indicating that under optimal conditions for in vitro protein synthesis an empty codon is frequently read by an incorrect aminoacyl--tRNA.

Involvement of 30S ribosomal protein S1 in poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis

The effect of 30S ribosomal protein S1 on poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis was studied using a highly purified cell-free system which was devoid of endogenous S1. The system consisted of homogeneous preparations of EF-Tu, EF-Ts, and EF-G, and 70S ribosomes from which protein S1 had been removed by poly(U)-cellulose column chromatography. It was found that protein S1 was indispensable for translation of poly(U) by an S1-depleted system at low concentrations of poly(U). On the other hand, at higher concentrations of poly(U), a considerable amount of polyphenylalanine was synthesized in the absence of added S1. The stimulatory effect of S1 was observed at all Mg2+ concentrations examined but was most pronounced at 10 mM Mg2+. Some physicochemical properties of the protein were also studied. It was demonstrated that the protein has an elongated shape with an axial ratio of approximately 8.5.

Partial characterization and proposed mode of action of inhibitory HeLa cell surface polypeptides

Polypeptides removed from the HeLa cell surface by mild pronase treatment rapidly inhibit protein synthesis when added to HeLa cells or cell-free translation systems derived from HeLa cells. The inhibitory activity is heat stable. Protein and carbohydrate components of these polypeptides are required for inhibition of protein synthesis in vivo and in vitro. Two peaks of activity can be recovered from polyacrylamide gels, corresponding to polypeptides with molecular weights of approximately 29 000 and 41 000. Inhibition of protein synthesis in cell-free translation systems appears to be primarily an effect on elongation of polypeptide chains, whereas in the intact cell the primary target may be polypeptide chain initiation.

Translocation reaction promoted by polypeptide chain elongation factor-2 from pig liver

Translocation of peptidyl-tRNA from the ribosomal A- to the P-site in the eukaryotic system was extensively investigated using a model system, in which translocation of Phe-tRNA from the A- to the P-site was examined by using the puromycin reaction, and the following results were obtained. 1) The puromycin reaction but not the translocation reaction proceeded at 0 degrees C. Since the latter could be demonstrated at 30 degrees C, it was possible to analyze translocation per se separately from the puromycin reaction. 2) Translocation was completely dependent on the elongation factor-2 (EF-2) and required the presence of GTP, which could be replaced by GMP-P(NH)P provided that the stoichiometric amount of EF-2 with respect to the amount or ribosomes was present. It was further demonstrated that translocation observed in the presence of GTP was catalytic, while that in the presence of GMP-P(NH)P was stoichiometric, indicating that hydrolysis of GTP was required for the catalytic reutilization of EF-2. 3) Translocation promoted by EF-2 in the presence of GMP-P(NH)P could be reversed, which suggests that hydrolysis of GTP is indispensable of the translocation reaction to proceed catalytically and unidirectionally forward.

Synthesis and properties of nucleoside 5'-phosphoazidates derived from guanosine and adenosine nucleotides: effective on elongation factors G and Tu dependent reactions

A new type of nucleoside poly (5'-phosphate) analogue, nucleoside 5"-phosphoazidate, with an azido group on the terminal phosphate of GTP, ATP, GDP, GMP, AND AMP, has been synthesized by nucleophilic displacement of the corresponding activated nucleosides by azide ion in yields of 25-45%. Guanosine 5-phosphoazidates is readily photolyzed by ultraviolet light; the corresponding adenosine derivative photolyzes more slowly. Guanosine 5'-O-(2-azidodiphosphate) and guanosine 5"-O-(3-azidotrophosphate) are competitive inhibitors of the formation of the ribosome-EF-G-GDP-fusidic acid complex and of the ribosome-EF-G GTPase. The dissociation constants of the former reaction are calculated to be 27 and 7 micrometer, respectively, or 270 and 73 times that of GDP. In the latter reaction, which is conducted in the absence of fusidic acid, the Ki values are 330 and 28 micrometer, respectively, or 12 and 1 times that of GDP. Guanosine 5"-O-(2-azidodiphosphate) and guanosine 5'-O-(3-azidotriphosphate) also complete with GTP in the formation of the binary complex. EF-Tu-GTP, with respective Kd values of 750 and 75 relative to GTP.

Further evidence that elongation factor 1 remains bound to ribosomes during peptide chain elongation

This paper describes three types of experiments which indicate that the binding sites for elongation factor 1 (EF-1) and elongation factor 2 (EF-2) on ascites cell ribosomes are not identical and perhaps not even overlapping. The experimental evidence presented includes direct competitive binding of labeled elongation factors to ribosomes as well as the influence of pokeweed antiviral protein and Escherichia coli anti L7/L12 proteins on the binding and function of the two factors. It is further shown that EF-1beta from Artemia salina does not function in displacing EF-1 from mouse ascites tumor cell ribosomes. These results also support our recently proposed model that EF-1 remains bound to the ribosome during the peptide chain elongation cycle.

Selective chemical modification of Escherichia coli elongation factor G: butanedione modification of an arginine essential for nucleotide binding

Treatment of Escherichia coli elongation factor G with the arginine reagent, 2,3-butanedione, leads to the inactivation of the enzyme when performed in sodium borate buffers. The inhibition follows pseudo-first-order kinetics until 95% of the activity has been lost and further incubation results in complete inhibiton. Removal of the borate by exhaustive dialysis results in the restoration of approximately 85% of the original activity. The pH dependence of the reaction suggests that the ionization of a group in the protein with a pKa of approximately 8.8 facilitates the reaction with butanedione. A reaction order of 1.01 +/- 0.13 was calculated for the inhibition reaction, indicating that the incorporation of one butanedione per elongation factor G results in the inactivation of the enzyme. The kinetics of inhibition in the presence of GTP indicate that the elongation factor G-GTP complex is refractory to butanedione inhibiton. Elongation factor G which has been partially inactivated by butanedione has the same apparent Km for GTP as does the native enzyme. These results indicate that elongation factor G contains only one essential arginine residue which is reactive with butanedione and that this residue is located at its nucleotide binding site.

Stabilization by the 30S ribosomal subunit of the interaction of 50S subunits with elongation factor G and guanine nucleotide

The role of the 30S ribosomal subunit in the formation of the complex ribosome-guanine nucleotide-elongation factor G (EF-G) has been examined in a great variety of experimental conditions. Our results show that at a large molar excess of EF-G or high concentrations of GTP or GDP, 50S ribosomal subunits are as active alone as with 30S subunits in the formation of the complex, while at lower concentrations of nucleotide or lower amounts of EF-G, addition of the 30S subunit stimulates greatly the reaction. The presence of the 30S ribosomal subunit can also moderate the inhibition of the 50S subunit activity that occurs by increasing moderately the concentrations of K+ and NH4+, and extends upward the concentration range of these monovalent cations in which complex formation is at maximum. The Mg2+ requirement for complex formation with the 50S subunit appears to be slightly less than that needed for association of the 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits. Measurement of the reaction rate constants of the complex formation shows that the 30S ribosomal subunit has only little effect on the initial association of EF-G and guanine nucleotide with the 50S subunit; but once this complex is formed, the 30S subunit increases its stability from 10- to 18-fold. It is concluded that stabilization of the interaction between EF-G and ribosome is a major function of the 30S subunit in the ribosome-EF-G GTPase reaction.

Inhibition of initiation, elongation, and termination of eukaryotic protein synthesis by trichothecene fungal toxins

The 12,13-epoxytrichothecenes, specific inhibitors of protein synthesis in eukaryotes, can be subdivided further in terms of their mode of action. In addition to the I-type (initiation inhibitors) and E-types (elongation inhibitors), we found that some E-types apparently exhibit inhibition of chain termination at low concentrations. The nature of substituents on C4 may determine the type of inhibitory activity observed.

Induction of mouse type-C virus by translational inhibitors: evidence for transcriptional derepression of a specific class of endogenous virus

Several biologically distinguishable type-C RNA viruses are genetically transmitted in mouse cells. In the present report, chemicals that inhibit several different steps in protein synthesis are shown to cause marked increases in the cellular concentration of virus-specific RNA and the subsequent induction of virus. Analysis of the effect of translational inhibitors on mouse embryo cells of different genotypes indicates that activation of viral RNA is specific for one endogenous virus class and is a dominant genetic characteristic. Two lines of evidence favor the hypothesis that the induction of viral RNA involves transcriptional derepression rather than an alteration in its post-transcriptional processing. First, nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of induced cells are shown to demonstrate similar increases in their concentrations of virus-specific RNA. Second, the decay of induced viral RNA following inhibition of further RNA synthesis by actinomycin D is not prevented by continued exposure to the inducer. These findings weigh heavily against the possibility that translational inhibitors act to stabilize viral RNA post-transcriptionally. The results are consistent with a model in which the expression of one class of endogenous virus is regulated by a labile repressor protein acting at a transcriptional level.

Interactions of adenosine diphosphate-ribosylated elongation factor 2 with ribosomes

The binding of adenosine diphosphate-ribosylated elongation factor 2 (ADPRib-EF-2) to ribosomes was inhibited both in the presence and absence of GTP in proportion to the amounts of unmodified EF-2 added. Concomitant with this inhibition, an increase in the activity of ribosome-bound EF-2 in polyphenylalanine synthesis was observed. On the other hand, the addition of ADPRib-EF-2 reduced the rate of poly(Phe) synthesis observed in the presence of a saturating amount of EF-2 and increased the amount of EF-2 required for the half-maximal rate of poly(Phe) synthesis. Phe-tRNA, nonenzymatically bound to the ribosome in the presence of poly(U), inhibited the subsequent binding of ADPHRib-EF-2. The same ribosomal population appeared to preferentially bind either aminoacyl-tRNA or ADPRib-EF-2. The Scatchard plot of the binding of ADPRib-EF-2 to the ribosome in the presence of GTP revealed the presence of two ribosomal binding sites (or ribosomal populations) with apparent different affinities for the modified factor (K371 degrees d,1 = 6.6 nM and K37 degrees d,2 = 126 nM). At saturating concentrations of ADPRib-EF-2, a maximum of about 1 molecule of the factor was bound per ribosome. The binding of ADPRib-EF-2 to the ribosome was stimulated by GTP. The binding of radioactive GTP to the ribosome was observed concomitantly with the binding of ADPRib-EF-2. One mole of GTP was bound per mole of ADPRib-EF-2. No significant difference could be found in the binding of GTP to ribosome required in the presence of either EF-2 or ADPRib-EF-2. The binding of ADPRib-EF-2 to the ribosome required the presence of Mg2+ and reached a maximum at 5 mM. The binding was greatest at K+ concentrations below 20 mM. ADPRib-EF-2 was bound primarily to the large ribosomal subunit. A slight, but reproducible binding to the 40 S subunit was also observed. The addition of 40 S to 60 S subunits stimulated the binding of ADPRib-EF-2. GTP displayed a stimulatory effect on the binding only in the presence of recombined subunits. Human ADPRib-EF-2 was bound to rat liver ribosomes as efficiently as to human tonsil ribosomes, while the binding to Escherichia coli ribosomes was insignificant.

Cryptopleurine--an inhibitor of translocation

Ribosomes from a cryptopleurine-resistant mutant of yeast were analyzed to determine the subunit localization of the resistance alteration. As was previously reported (Grant, P., Sanchez, L., and Jiminez, A. (1974), J. Bacteriol. 120, 1308), in vitro resistance of polyphenylalanine synthesis to cryptopleurine was conferred by 40S subunits from the mutant. Binding studies with sensitive ribosomes were carried out in order to identify the subunit binding site for cryptopleurine. Over the range of concentrations which inhibited polyphenylalanine synthesis, binding was proportional to concentration, so that a unique binding site could not be detected. Furthermore, binding to isolated subunits was about fourfold greater than to 80S ribosomes, suggesting that non-specific binding was sensitive to the condition of the particles. Model systems were developed in order to determine which step of the elongation cycle was inhibited by cryptopleurine. Elongation factor 1 dependent binding of Phe-tRNA to ribosomes was not inhibited by cryptopleurine concentrations, which inhibited polyphenylalanine synthesis. The initial rate of N-acetylphenylalanylpuromycin formation was inhibited when 10(-5) M cryptopleurine was added prior to translocation, but not when added after. Little inhibition was observed in either case when mutant ribosomes were used. These results suggest that cryptopleurine primarily inhibited translocation.

A cycloheximide sensitivity factor from yeast required for N-acetylphenylalanylpuromycin formation

A protein (factor P) has been isolated from yeast, which was required for sensitivity to cycloheximide of a partially purified polyphenylalanine synthesis system. In the absence of factor P, 10(-3) M cycloheximide was required for 50% inhibition of polyphenylalanine synthesis, while in its presence, 10(-6) M gave 50% inhibition. Coincident with cycloheximide sensitivity was an activity required for EF-2 dependent N-acetylphenylalanylpuromycin (N-AcPhePuro) formation. Transfer of N-AcPhe to puromycin from the tRNA bound in the presence of 26 mM MgCl2 required factor P, as well as EF-2. Studies with antibody against EF-2 demonstrated that P factor was not required during the EF-2 translocation step but for some subsequent step.

Different susceptibility of protein synthesis to inhibitors of elongation in cell-free systems from plasma cell tumours and reticulocytes

Plasma cells and reticulocytes are mammalian cell systems which have specialized in the synthesis of a single protein during their differentiation from one common stem cell. To study whether there is a difference in cell susceptibility at the level of elongation, dose vs. inhibition curves of sparsomycin, cycloheximide and emetine in cell-free systems with S-30 fractions from plasma cell tumours (MOPC 63, MOPC 41, RPC 20, MOPC 104 E), reticulocytes and liver were compared. The experiments revealed: (1) all the selected systems are equally sensitive to sparsomycin; (2) the susceptibility of the reticulocyte systems to cycloheximide and emetine is higher than that of the plasma cell tumours. In the dose range of 1 - 10(-7) --5 - 10(-5) M cycloheximide and 1 - 10(-6)--1 - 10(-4) M emetine the reticulocyte system is preferentially inhibited; (3) the sensitivities of all plasma cell tumours are equal; (4) the liver system is more sensitive to emetine than to cycloheximide; (5) the site of the different susceptibility to these antibiotics could be located on the ribosomes; (6) however, when the extracts of the plasma cell tumours were prepared in the presence of hemin, their susceptibility rises and is like that of reticulocytes. These results show that hemin promotes in a cell-specific manner the sensitivity to some inhibitors of protein synthesis.

Site of action of ricin on the ribosome

The extent of the inhibitory effect of ricin in polyphenylalanine synthesis by eukaryotic ribosomes is strongly dependent upon the concentration of ribosomes and the elongation factors EF 1 and EF2. Maximal inhibition by ricin, in this assay is observed when either ribosomes or the two elongation factors are added under limiting conditions, whereas ricin-treated ribosomes support protein synthesis at saturating concentrations of elongation factors and ribosomes. Similarly, the enzymatic binding of Phe-tRNA to ribosomes is drastically blocked in ricin-treated ribosomes when low EF 1 concentrations are added to the reaction mixture, but there is no inhibition when EF 1 is at saturating concentrations. Furthermore, formation of the complex EF 2-guanosine triphosphate-ribosome, using free ribosomes pretreated with ricin, is strongly inhibited at limiting concentrations of EF2, but is not affected at saturating concentrations of this factor. However, ricin does not inhibit the EF 2-dependent translocation of peptidyl-tRNA by polysomes, although the toxin is very active in preventing amino acid incorporation by polysomes. Our results suggest that the damaging effect of ricin on the ribosome causes a decreased affinity for both elongation factors EF 1 and EF 2. Thus, the toxin inhibits the enzymatic binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosomes. The lack of inhibition of translocation by ricin suggests that the toxin cannot interact with ribosomes with substrate bound to the acceptor site. Essentially similar results are observed with ricin, abrin, ricin A chain, abrin A chain, and ricinus agglutinin A chain. A possible effect of the toxins on initiation and/or termination is further discussed.

Control of transfer RNA synthesis in the presence of inhibitors of protein synthesis

The rate of synthesis of transfer RNA in suspension cultures of Chang's liver cells, has been examined in the presence of various inhibitors of protein synthesis with different modes of action. Inhibitors of polypeptide chain elongation such as cycloheximide and emetine stimulated the rate of synthesis of transfer RNA at concentrations that inhibited protein synthesis by 60-90%. Trichodermin, an inhibitor of the elongation and termination steps in protein synthesis, had as effect similar to that of cycloheximide and emetine. On the other hand verrucarin, an inhibitor of initiation, and puromycin, an analogue of the aminoacyl terminus of tRNA, had little effect of the synthesis of transfer RNA at low concentrations. At high concentrations these compounds inhibited transfer RNA synthesis. Inhibitors of protein synthesis can be divided in two groups based on their effect on the polysom pattern. The first group increased the number of large polysomes, while verrucarin and puromycin lead to a break down of large polysomes and to an accumulation of monosomes and small polysomes. Thus, there appears to be a correlation between the effect of these inhibitors of protein synthesis on the aggregational state of the polysomes and their effect on the rate of transfer RNA synthesis.

Tirandamycin, an inhibitor of bacterial ribonucleic acid polymerase

The antibiotic tirandamycin (a 3-acyltetramic acid structurally related to streptolydigin) specifically inhibits transcription by interfering with the function of bacterial ribonucleic acid polymerase. Ribonucleic acid polymerases from rat liver nuclei are not subject to tirandamycin inhibition. Qualitatively, the mode of action of the antibiotic is identical to that of streptolydigin in inhibiting chain initiation as well as chain elongation during the transcriptional process. However, tirandamycin is approximately 40 times less potent than streptolydigin. The structures of the 3-acyl groups of the two acyltetramic acid antibiotics tirandamycin and streptolydigin differ only slightly in the degree of oxidation of the terminal dioxabicyclo (3.1)nonane system and possess the same stereochemistry (D. J. Duchamp, A. R. Branfman, A. C. Button, and K. L. Rinehart, 1973). More significantly, major differences occur at the 1 and 5 positions of the tetramic acids. Tirandamycin contains no substituents; streptolydigin contains a substituted acetamide function at position 5 and a sugar moiety at position 1. The lack of substituents at the 1 and 5 positions of the tetramic acid portion in tirandamycin is probably responsible for the reduced biopotency of tirandamycin as compared with streptolydigin.

Mechanism of D-amphetamine inhibition of protein synthesis

At 1 h after intraperitoneal administration of D-amphetamine sulphate (15 mg/kg), rat brain polyribosomes show disaggregation accompanied by reduced capacity for in vitro peptide chain elongation. The direct action of amphetamine on cell-fine protein-synthesizing systems was therefore explored. When brain or liver polyribosomes from untreated rats were incubated with pH 5 enzyme, peptide chain elongation was not inhibited by the addition 4 mM amphetamine to the medium. On the other hand, an initiation-dependent system consisting of rat liver of brain mRNA and wheat germ S-30 fraction showed inhibition of [3H]leucine incorporation by 50% when 4 mM amphetamine were added. The metabolites of amphetamine, p-hydroxyamphetamine and p-hydroxynorephedrine, had no inhibitory action in either system, but the potent neurotoxin p-chloroamphetamine was a more powerful inhibitor of initiation than amphetamine. By using [3H]amphetamine, it was shown that amphetamine binds to the 80-S ribosomes of the wheat germ system. This binding depended on the presence in the system of natural liver or brain mRNA or several synthetic mRNAs, but was not promoted by polyuridylic acid as the messenger. Significantly, polyuridylic acid-dependent polyphenylalanine synthesis by the wheat germ system was not inhibited by amphetamine or p-chloroamphetamine. Therefore, it was concluded that amphetamine inhibits protein synthesis by interfering with initiation through a step related to formation of the mRNA ribosome complex.

Functional identity of the monomeric and multiple forms of elongation-factor 1 from Krebs-II mouse ascites-tumor cells

Highly purified 3H-labelled elongation factor 1 (EF-1) from Krebs II mouse ascites tumour cells was separated into biologically active monomeric and aggregate forms of the enzyme by either gradient centrifugation or gel filtration. When corrected for their content of inactive enzyme both forms of the factor were found to be equally active whether tested in the binding or synthesis reaction. The only form of the enzyme found bound to ribosomes was the monomer; it was therefore concluded that the aggregate form of the enzyme must first dissociate before it reacts with the ribosome. The stoichiometry of the aminoacyl-tRNA binding reaction to ribosomes in the presence of guanosine nucleotides was also studied. It was found that one molecule of aminoacyl-tRNA and of Guo-5'-P2-CH2-P is bound per molecule of EF-1 bound to the ribosome. Following interaction with a release from, the ribosomes, EF-1 was found to be predominantly monomeric.

Lesions in post-ribosomal supernatant fractions associated with loss of viability in pea (Pisum arvense) seed

RNA synthesis and protein synthesis in viable pea embryonic axis tissue commences during the first hour of water imbibition whilst DNA synthesis commences after 8 h of imbibition. Neither DNA synthesis nor protein synthesis could be detected in non-viable axis tissue during the first 24 h of imbibition but some RNA synthesis is detectable during this period. Both post-ribosomal supernatant and ribosomal fractions from imbibed non-viable embryonic axis tissue were impaired in their ability to support polyphenylalanine synthesis in a cell-free protein-synthesising system, yet the same fractions isolated from unimbibed non-viable axis tissue were as efficient as equivalent fractions from unimbibed viable axis tissue in the support of polyphenylalanine synthesis in the cell-free system. A major lesion in elongation factor 1 activity and additional lesions in elongation factor 2 and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase activities were detected in the post-ribosomal supernatants isolated from non-viable embryonic axis tissue.

Polypeptide-chain elongation promoted by guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate

In a purified system from Escherichia coli containing ribosomes complexed with poly(uridylic acid) and N-acetyl-phenylalanyl-tRNA, the nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP, guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Guo-5'-P2-NH-P), promotes polypeptide synthesis at a rate several times slower than GTP. The activity is completely dependent on elongation factors EF-T (i.e, EF-Ts + EF-Tu) and EF-G. Examination of individual steps of the elongation cycle in partial reactions shows that Guo-5'-P2-NH-P is as efficient as GTP in promoting the EF-T-dependent binding of phenylalanyl-tRNA to the ribosomal A site. In contrast, Guo-5'-P2-NH-P promotes the translocation-dependent binding of phenylalanyl-tRNA to a ribosome complexed with A-site-bound N-acetyl-phenylalanyl-tRNA much more slowly than GTP. This slow rate of binding is due to the presence of EF-G on the ribosome, and not to sluggish translocation, since (a) the rate remains slow even after translocation of N-acetylphenylalanyl-tRNA is completed, (b) it is greatly speeded up by removal of EF-G from the reaction mixture (after translocation has occurred), and (c) it is slowed down again by readdition of the factor. Moreover, with post-translocated ribosomes and in the absence of EF-G, formation of dipeptide subsequent to the EF-T-dependent binding of phenylalanyl-tRNA is much slower when binding of this substrate has been promoted by Guo-5'-P2-NH-P than it is when promoted by GTP. The results suggest that, during polymerization with Guo-5'-P2-NH-P, EF-G and EF-Tu are slowly released from the ribosome and, consequently, the steps of the elongation cycle subsequent to translocation and aminoacyl-tRNA binding (aminoacyl-tRNA binding and peptide bond formation, respectively) are delayed. Thus, durong elongation cycle, GTP hydrolysis is probably essential for fast release of the factors from the ribosome.

Stimulation of peptide elongation by thyroxine

This study suggests that thyroxine stimulates peptide elongation in a cell-free rat liver polyribosome system. The thyroxine effect persists in the presence of sufficient aurintricarboxylic acid to prevent polyuridylic acid-stimulated peptide initiation. In addition, thyroxine stimulates elongation of pre-existing polyphenylalanine chains providing conclusive evidence that the effect does not depend on peptide initiation. Thyroxine does not stimulate release of nascent peptides from ribosomes into the supernatant phase of the reaction mixture. Therefore in this protein-synthesis system the thyroxine effect is expected to occur at one or more of the reactions of peptide chain elongation, which include aminoacyl-tRNA binding, peptide bond synthesis and translocation.

Hormonal control of vitellogenin synthesis in avian liver

Estradiol induces the synthesis of vitellogenin in the avian liver. We describe the precursor-product relationship between vitellogenin and the yolk proteins phosvitin and lipovitellin. The high rate of vitellogenin synthesis is a consequence of the accumulation of a stable messenger RNA. We suggest that estradiol acts at the level of the genome by opening a hitherto non-transcribed gene.

Inhibition by thiopeptin of bacterial protein synthesis

Thiopeptin, a sulfur-containing antibiotic, was found to inhibit protein synthesis in a bacterial ribosomal system. The pretreatment of ribosomal subunits with the antibiotic revealed that thiopeptin may act on the 50 S ribosomal subunit. The elongation of peptide chain on the ribosome is more profoundly blocked by the antibiotic than the initiation of protein synthesis. It was demonstrated that thiopeptin inhibits elongation factor (EF)-Tu-dependent GTP hydrolysis and binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to the ribosome. The peptidyl transferase-catalyzed puromycin reaction is not significantly affected by the antibiotic. Thiopeptin inhibits EF-G-associated GTPase reaction, and translocation of peptidyl-tRNA and mRNA from the acceptor site to the donor site. Protein synthesis in ribosomal systems, obtained from rat liver and rabbit reticulocytes are insensitive to the antibiotic.