Molecular mechanism of scanning and start codon selection in eukaryotes

Translation of viral mRNAs that do not require eIF4E is blocked by the inhibitor 4EGI-1

High throughput screening has rendered new inhibitors of eukaryotic protein synthesis. One such molecule, 4EGI-1 has been reported to selectively block the initiation factor eIF4E. We have investigated the action of this inhibitor on translation directed by several viral mRNAs which, in principle, do not utilize eIF4E. We found that 4EGI-1 inhibits translation directed by poliovirus IRES, in rabbit reticulocyte lysates, to a similar extent as capped mRNA. Moreover, 4EGI-1 inhibits translation driven by poliovirus IRES, both in vitro and in cultured cells, despite cleavage of eIF4G by picornavirus proteases. Finally, translation of vesicular stomatitis virus mRNAs and Sindbis virus subgenomic mRNA is blocked by 4EGI-1 in infected cells to a similar extent as cellular mRNAs. These findings cast doubt on the selective action of this inhibitor, and suggest that this molecule may affect other steps in protein synthesis unrelated to cap recognition by eIF4E.

Tuning gene expression with synthetic upstream open reading frames

We engineered short ORFs and used them to control the expression level of recombinant proteins. These short ORFs, encoding a two-amino acid peptide, were placed upstream of an ORF encoding a protein of interest. Insertion of these upstream ORFs (uORFs) resulted in suppression of protein expression. By varying the base sequence preceding the uORF, we sought to vary the translation initiation rate of the uORF and subsequently control the degree of this suppression. Using this strategy, we generated a library of RNA sequence elements that can specify protein expression over a broad range of levels. By also using multiple uORFs in series and non-AUG start codons, we were able to generate particularly low expression levels, allowing us to achieve expression levels spanning three orders of magnitude. Modeling supported a mechanism where uORFs shunt the flow of ribosomes away from the downstream protein-coding ORF. With a lower translation initiation rate at the uORF, more ribosomes "leak" past the uORF; consequently, more ribosomes are able to reach and translate the downstream ORF. We report expression control by engineering uORFs and translation initiation to be robust, predictable, and reproducible across all cell types tested. We propose control of translation initiation as a primary method of choice for tuning expression in mammalian systems.

Translation initiation requires cell division cycle 123 (Cdc123) to facilitate biogenesis of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2)

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2) is central to the onset of protein synthesis and its modulation in response to physiological demands. eIF2, a heterotrimeric G-protein, is activated by guanine nucleotide exchange to deliver the initiator methionyl-tRNA to the ribosome. Here we report that assembly of the eIF2 complex in vivo depends on Cdc123, a cell proliferation protein conserved among eukaryotes. Mutations of CDC123 in budding yeast reduced the association of eIF2 subunits, diminished polysome levels, and increased GCN4 expression indicating that Cdc123 is critical for eIF2 activity. Cdc123 bound the unassembled eIF2γ subunit, but not the eIF2 complex, and the C-terminal domain III region of eIF2γ was both necessary and sufficient for Cdc123 binding. Alterations of the binding site revealed a strict correlation between Cdc123 binding, the biological function of eIF2γ, and its ability to assemble with eIF2α and eIF2β. Interestingly, high levels of Cdc123 neutralized the assembly defect and restored the biological function of an eIF2γ mutant. Moreover, the combined overexpression of eIF2 subunits rescued an otherwise inviable cdc123 deletion mutant. Thus, Cdc123 is a specific eIF2 assembly factor indispensable for the onset of protein synthesis. Human Cdc123 is encoded by a disease risk locus, and, therefore, eIF2 biogenesis control by Cdc123 may prove relevant for normal cell physiology and human health. This work identifies a novel step in the eukaryotic translation initiation pathway and assigns a biochemical function to a protein that is essential for growth and viability of eukaryotic cells.

Two RNA-binding motifs in eIF3 direct HCV IRES-dependent translation

The initiation of protein synthesis plays an essential regulatory role in human biology. At the center of the initiation pathway, the 13-subunit eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) controls access of other initiation factors and mRNA to the ribosome by unknown mechanisms. Using electron microscopy (EM), bioinformatics and biochemical experiments, we identify two highly conserved RNA-binding motifs in eIF3 that direct translation initiation from the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site (HCV IRES) RNA. Mutations in the RNA-binding motif of subunit eIF3a weaken eIF3 binding to the HCV IRES and the 40S ribosomal subunit, thereby suppressing eIF2-dependent recognition of the start codon. Mutations in the eIF3c RNA-binding motif also reduce 40S ribosomal subunit binding to eIF3, and inhibit eIF5B-dependent steps downstream of start codon recognition. These results provide the first connection between the structure of the central translation initiation factor eIF3 and recognition of the HCV genomic RNA start codon, molecular interactions that likely extend to the human transcriptome.

Influence of translation factor activities on start site selection in six different mRNAs

Current literature using biochemical assays, structural analyses and genetic manipulations has reported that the key factors associated with the faithful matching of the initiator met-tRNA to the start codon AUG are eIF1, eIF1A and eIF5. However, these findings were in each case based upon the utilization of a single mRNA, perhaps with variations. In an effort to evaluate this general finding, we tested six different mRNAs. Our results confirm that these three proteins are important for start site selection. However, two additional findings would not have been predicted. The first is that eIF1 plays a major role in selecting against start codons that are in close proximity to the 5′ end of the mRNA (i.e., less than 21 nucleotides). Second, the addition of eIF5B had nearly the same affect as the addition of eIF5. This is unexpected given the different roles that eIF5 and eIF5B have been proposed to play in the 80S initiation pathway. Finally, although many of the mRNAs appear to respond qualitatively in a similar manner, the quantitative differences noted suggest that there is still some mRNA specific character to our findings. This character may be the length of the 5′ UTR, involvement of an IRES element, secondary structure either 5′ or 3′ of the start codon or specific sequence/structure elements that interact with RNA binding proteins or the ribosome.

Physical evidence supporting a ribosomal shunting mechanism of translation initiation for BACE1 mRNA

In Alzheimer disease, elevated levels of the BACE1 enzyme are correlated with increased production of amyloid peptides and disease pathology. The increase in BACE1 levels is post-transcriptional and may involve altered translation efficiency. Earlier studies have indicated that translation of BACE1 mRNA is cap-dependent. As ribosomal subunits move from the cap-structure to the initiation codon, they fail to recognize several AUG codons in the 5′ leader. In this study, we looked for physical evidence of the mechanism underlying ribosomal scanning or shunting along the BACE1 5′ leader by investigating structural stability in the 5′ leaders of endogenous mRNAs in vivo. To perform this analysis, we probed RNAs using lead(II) acetate, a cell-permeable chemical that induces cleavage of unpaired nucleotides having conformational flexibility. The data revealed that the ≈440-nt 5′ leader was generally resistant to cleavage except for a region upstream of the initiation codon. Cleavage continued into the coding region, consistent with destabilization of secondary structures by translating ribosomes. Evidence that a large segment of the BACE1 5′ leader was not cleaved indicates that this region is structurally stable and suggests that it is not scanned. The data support a mechanism of translation initiation in which ribosomal subunits bypass (shunt) part of the BACE1 5′ leader to reach the initiation codon. We suggest that a nucleotide bias in the 5′ leader may predispose the initiation codon to be more accessible than other AUG codons in the 5′ leader, leading to an increase in its relative utilization.

'Ribozoomin'--translation initiation from the perspective of the ribosome-bound eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs)

Protein synthesis is a fundamental biological mechanism bringing the DNA-encoded genetic information into life by its translation into molecular effectors - proteins. The initiation phase of translation is one of the key points of gene regulation in eukaryotes, playing a role in processes from neuronal function to development. Indeed, the importance of the study of protein synthesis is increasing with the growing list of genetic diseases caused by mutations that affect mRNA translation. To grasp how this regulation is achieved or altered in the latter case, we must first understand the molecular details of all underlying processes of the translational cycle with the main focus put on its initiation. In this review I discuss recent advances in our comprehension of the molecular basis of particular initiation reactions set into the context of how and where individual eIFs bind to the small ribosomal subunit in the pre-initiation complex. I also summarize our current knowledge on how eukaryotic initiation factor eIF3 controls gene expression in the gene-specific manner via reinitiation.

The genetic code as expressed through relationships between mRNA structure and protein function

Structured RNA elements within messenger RNA often direct or modulate the cellular production of active proteins. As reviewed here, RNA structures have been discovered that govern nearly every step in protein production: mRNA production and stability; translation initiation, elongation, and termination; protein folding; and cellular localization. Regulatory RNA elements are common within RNAs from every domain of life. This growing body of RNA-mediated mechanisms continues to reveal new ways in which mRNA structure regulates translation. We integrate examples from several different classes of RNA structure-mediated regulation to present a global perspective that suggests that the secondary and tertiary structure of RNA ultimately constitutes an additional level of the genetic code that both guides and regulates protein biosynthesis.

Coordinated movements of eukaryotic translation initiation factors eIF1, eIF1A, and eIF5 trigger phosphate release from eIF2 in response to start codon recognition by the ribosomal preinitiation complex

Accurate recognition of the start codon in an mRNA by the eukaryotic translation preinitiation complex (PIC) is essential for proper gene expression. The process is mediated by eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) in conjunction with the 40 S ribosomal subunit and (initiator) tRNA(i). Here, we provide evidence that the C-terminal tail (CTT) of eIF1A, which we previously implicated in start codon recognition, moves closer to the N-terminal domain of eIF5 when the PIC encounters an AUG codon. Importantly, this movement is coupled to dissociation of eIF1 from the PIC, a critical event in start codon recognition, and is dependent on the scanning enhancer elements in the eIF1A CTT. The data further indicate that eIF1 dissociation must be accompanied by the movement of the eIF1A CTT toward eIF5 in order to trigger release of phosphate from eIF2, which converts the latter to its GDP-bound state. Our results also suggest that release of eIF1 from the PIC and movement of the CTT of eIF1A are triggered by the same event, most likely accommodation of tRNA(i) in the P site of the 40 S subunit driven by base pairing between the start codon in the mRNA and the anticodon in tRNA(i). Finally, we show that the C-terminal domain of eIF5 is responsible for the factor's activity in antagonizing eIF1 binding to the PIC. Together, our data provide a more complete picture of the chain of molecular events that is triggered when the scanning PIC encounters an AUG start codon in the mRNA.

Structural basis for the nuclear export activity of Importin13

Importin13 (Imp13) is a bidirectional karyopherin that can mediate both import and export of cargoes. Imp13 recognizes several import cargoes, which include the exon junction complex components Mago-Y14 and the E2 SUMO-conjugating enzyme Ubc9, and one known export cargo, the translation initiation factor 1A (eIF1A). To understand how Imp13 can perform double duty, we determined the 3.6-Å crystal structure of Imp13 in complex with RanGTP and with eIF1A. eIF1A binds at the inner surface of the Imp13 C-terminal arch adjacent and concomitantly to RanGTP illustrating how eIF1A can be exported by Imp13. Moreover, the 3.0-Å structure of Imp13 in its unbound state reveals the existence of an open conformation in the cytoplasm that explains export cargo release and completes the export branch of the Imp13 pathway. Finally, we demonstrate that Imp13 is able to bind and export eIF1A in vivo and that its function is essential.

The stringency of start codon selection in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa

In eukaryotic cells initiation may occur from near-cognate codons that differ from AUG by a single nucleotide. The stringency of start codon selection impacts the efficiency of initiation at near-cognate codons and the efficiency of initiation at AUG codons in different contexts. We used a codon-optimized firefly luciferase reporter initiated with AUG or each of the nine near-cognate codons in preferred context to examine the stringency of start codon selection in the model filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. In vivo results indicated that the hierarchy of initiation at start codons in N. crassa (AUG ≫ CUG > GUG > ACG > AUA ≈ UUG > AUU > AUC) is similar to that in human cells. Similar results were obtained by translating mRNAs in a homologous N. crassa in vitro translation system or in rabbit reticulocyte lysate. We next examined the efficiency of initiation at AUG, CUG, and UUG codons in different contexts in vitro. The preferred context was more important for efficient initiation from near-cognate codons than from AUG. These studies demonstrated that near-cognate codons are used for initiation in N. crassa. Such events could provide additional coding capacity or have regulatory functions. Analyses of the 5'-leader regions in the N. crassa transcriptome revealed examples of highly conserved near-cognate codons in preferred contexts that could extend the N termini of the predicted polypeptides.

Translational regulation of RPA2 via internal ribosomal entry site and by eIF3a

RPA2 is a subunit of a trimeric replication protein A (RPA) complex important for DNA repair and replication. Although it is known that RPA activity is regulated by post-translational modification, whether RPA expression is regulated and the mechanism therein is currently unknown. eIF3a, the largest subunit of eIF3, is an important player in translational control and has been suggested to regulate translation of a subset of messenger RNAs important for tumorigenesis, metastasis, cell cycle progression, drug response and DNA repair. In the present study, we show that RPA2 expression is regulated at translational level via internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated initiation in response to DNA damage. We also found that eIF3a suppresses RPA2 synthesis and inhibits its cellular IRES activity by directly binding to the IRES element of RPA2 located at -50 to -150 bases upstream of the translation start site. Taken together, we conclude that RPA2 expression is translationally regulated via IRES and by eIF3a and that this regulation is partly accountable for cellular response to DNA damage and survival.

Yeast eIF4B binds to the head of the 40S ribosomal subunit and promotes mRNA recruitment through its N-terminal and internal repeat domains

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF)4B stimulates recruitment of mRNA to the 43S ribosomal pre-initiation complex (PIC). Yeast eIF4B (yeIF4B), shown previously to bind single-stranded (ss) RNA, consists of an N-terminal domain (NTD), predicted to be unstructured in solution; an RNA-recognition motif (RRM); an unusual domain comprised of seven imperfect repeats of 26 amino acids; and a C-terminal domain. Although the mechanism of yeIF4B action has remained obscure, most models have suggested central roles for its RRM and ssRNA-binding activity. We have dissected the functions of yeIF4B's domains and show that the RRM and its ssRNA-binding activity are dispensable in vitro and in vivo. Instead, our data indicate that the 7-repeats and NTD are the most critical domains, which mediate binding of yeIF4B to the head of the 40S ribosomal subunit via interaction with Rps20. This interaction induces structural changes in the ribosome's mRNA entry channel that could facilitate mRNA loading. We also show that yeIF4B strongly promotes productive interaction of eIF4A with the 43S•mRNA PIC in a manner required for efficient mRNA recruitment.

Roles of helicases in translation initiation: a mechanistic view

The goal of this review is to summarize our current knowledge about the helicases involved in translation initiation and their roles in both general and mRNA-specific translation. The main topics covered are the mechanisms of helicase action, with emphasis on the roles of accessory domains and proteins; the functions performed by helicases in translation initiation; and the interplay between direct and indirect effects of helicases that also function in steps preceding translation initiation. Special attention is given to the dynamics of eIF4A binding and dissociation from eIF4F during mRNA unwinding. It is proposed that DHX29, as well as other helicases and translation initiation factors could also cycle on and off the translation initiation complexes, similar to eIF4A. The evidence in favor of this hypothesis and its possible implications for the mechanisms of translation initiation is discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The biology of RNA helicases - Modulation for life.

A yeast purification system for human translation initiation factors eIF2 and eIF2Bε and their use in the diagnosis of CACH/VWM disease

Recessive inherited mutations in any of five subunits of the general protein synthesis factor eIF2B are responsible for a white mater neurodegenerative disease with a large clinical spectrum. The classical form is called Childhood Ataxia with CNS hypomyelination (CACH) or Vanishing White Matter Leukoencephalopathy (VWM). eIF2B-related disorders affect glial cells, despite the fact that eIF2B is a ubiquitous protein that functions as a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for its partner protein eIF2 in the translation initiation process in all eukaryotic cells. Decreased eIF2B activity measured by a GEF assay in patients' immortalised lymphocytic cells provides a biochemical diagnostic assay but is limited by the availability of eIF2 protein, which is classically purified from a mammalian cell source by column chromatography. Here we describe the generation of a recombinant expression system to produce purified human eIF2 from yeast cells. We demonstrate that human eIF2 can function in yeast cells in place of the equivalent yeast factor. We purify human eIF2 and the C-terminal domain of human eIF2Bε using affinity chromatography from engineered yeast cells and find that both function in a GEF assay: the first demonstration that this human eIF2Bε domain has GEF function. We show that CACH/VWM mutations within this domain reduce its activity. Finally we demonstrate that the recombinant eIF2 functions similarly to eIF2 purified from rat liver in GEF assays with CACH/VWM eIF2B-mutated patient derived lymphocytic cells.

Roles of yeast eIF2α and eIF2β subunits in the binding of the initiator methionyl-tRNA

Heterotrimeric eukaryotic/archaeal translation initiation factor 2 (e/aIF2) binds initiator methionyl-tRNA and plays a key role in the selection of the start codon on messenger RNA. tRNA binding was extensively studied in the archaeal system. The γ subunit is able to bind tRNA, but the α subunit is required to reach high affinity whereas the β subunit has only a minor role. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae however, the available data suggest an opposite scenario with β having the most important contribution to tRNA-binding affinity. In order to overcome difficulties with purification of the yeast eIF2γ subunit, we designed chimeric eIF2 by assembling yeast α and β subunits to archaeal γ subunit. We show that the β subunit of yeast has indeed an important role, with the eukaryote-specific N- and C-terminal domains being necessary to obtain full tRNA-binding affinity. The α subunit apparently has a modest contribution. However, the positive effect of α on tRNA binding can be progressively increased upon shortening the acidic C-terminal extension. These results, together with small angle X-ray scattering experiments, support the idea that in yeast eIF2, the tRNA molecule is bound by the α subunit in a manner similar to that observed in the archaeal aIF2-GDPNP-tRNA complex.

Novel insights into the architecture and protein interaction network of yeast eIF3

Translation initiation in eukaryotes is a multistep process requiring the orchestrated interaction of several eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs). The largest of these factors, eIF3, forms the scaffold for other initiation factors, promoting their binding to the 40S ribosomal subunit. Biochemical and structural studies on eIF3 need highly pure eIF3. However, natively purified eIF3 comprise complexes containing other proteins such as eIF5. Therefore we have established in vitro reconstitution protocols for Saccharomyces cerevisiae eIF3 using its five recombinantly expressed and purified subunits. This reconstituted eIF3 complex (eIF3(rec)) exhibits the same size and activity as the natively purified eIF3 (eIF3(nat)). The homogeneity and stoichiometry of eIF3(rec) and eIF3(nat) were confirmed by analytical size exclusion chromatography, mass spectrometry, and multi-angle light scattering, demonstrating the presence of one copy of each subunit in the eIF3 complex. The reconstituted and native eIF3 complexes were compared by single-particle electron microscopy showing a high degree of structural conservation. The interaction network between eIF3 proteins was studied by means of limited proteolysis, analytical size exclusion chromatography, in vitro binding assays, and isothermal titration calorimetry, unveiling distinct protein domains and subcomplexes that are critical for the integrity of the protein network in yeast eIF3. Taken together, the data presented here provide a novel procedure to obtain highly pure yeast eIF3, suitable for biochemical and structural analysis, in addition to a detailed picture of the network of protein interactions within this complex.

Yeast eukaryotic initiation factor 4B (eIF4B) enhances complex assembly between eIF4A and eIF4G in vivo

Translation initiation factor eIF4F (eukaryotic initiation factor 4F), composed of eIF4E, eIF4G, and eIF4A, binds to the m(7)G cap structure of mRNA and stimulates recruitment of the 43S preinitiation complex and subsequent scanning to the initiation codon. The HEAT domain of eIF4G stabilizes the active conformation of eIF4A required for its RNA helicase activity. Mammalian eIF4B also stimulates eIF4A activity, but this function appears to be lacking in yeast, making it unclear how yeast eIF4B (yeIF4B/Tif3) stimulates translation. We identified Ts(-) mutations in the HEAT domains of yeast eIF4G1 and eIF4G2 that are suppressed by overexpressing either yeIF4B or eIF4A, whereas others are suppressed only by eIF4A overexpression. Importantly, suppression of HEAT domain substitutions by yeIF4B overexpression was correlated with the restoration of native eIF4A·eIF4G complexes in vivo, and the rescue of specific mutant eIF4A·eIF4G complexes by yeIF4B was reconstituted in vitro. Association of eIF4A with WT eIF4G in vivo also was enhanced by yeIF4B overexpression and was impaired in cells lacking yeIF4B. Furthermore, we detected native complexes containing eIF4G and yeIF4B but lacking eIF4A. These and other findings lead us to propose that yeIF4B acts in vivo to promote eIF4F assembly by enhancing a conformation of the HEAT domain of yeast eIF4G conducive for stable binding to eIF4A.

Peptidomic discovery of short open reading frame-encoded peptides in human cells

The amount of the transcriptome that is translated into polypeptides is of fundamental importance. We developed a peptidomic strategy to detect short ORF (sORF)-encoded polypeptides (SEPs) in human cells. We identified 90 SEPs, 86 of which are novel, the largest number of human SEPs ever reported. SEP abundances range from 10-1000 molecules per cell, identical to known proteins. SEPs arise from sORFs in non-coding RNAs as well as multi-cistronic mRNAs, and many SEPs initiate with non-AUG start codons, indicating that non-canonical translation may be more widespread in mammals than previously thought. In addition, coding sORFs are present in a small fraction (8/1866) of long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs). Together, these results provide the strongest evidence to date that the human proteome is more complex than previously appreciated.

miRNA repression of translation in vitro takes place during 43S ribosomal scanning

microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression at multiple levels by repressing translation, stimulating deadenylation and inducing the premature decay of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Although the mechanism by which miRNAs repress translation has been widely studied, the precise step targeted and the molecular insights of such repression are still evasive. Here, we have used our newly designed in vitro system, which allows to study miRNA effect on translation independently of deadenylation. By using specific inhibitors of various stages of protein synthesis, we first show that miRNAs target exclusively the early steps of translation with no effect on 60S ribosomal subunit joining, elongation or termination. Then, by using viral proteases and IRES-driven mRNA constructs, we found that translational inhibition takes place during 43S ribosomal scanning and requires both the poly(A) binding protein and eIF4G independently from their physical interaction.

Host translation at the nexus of infection and immunity

By controlling gene expression at the level of mRNA translation, organisms temporally and spatially respond swiftly to an ever-changing array of environmental conditions. This capacity for rapid response is ideally suited for mobilizing host defenses and coordinating innate responses to infection. Not surprisingly, a growing list of pathogenic microbes target host mRNA translation for inhibition. Infection with bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and fungi has the capacity to interfere with ongoing host protein synthesis and thereby trigger and/or suppress powerful innate responses. This review discusses how diverse pathogens manipulate the host translation machinery and the impact of these interactions on infection biology and the immune response.

Interplay between polyadenylate-binding protein 1 and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus ORF57 in accumulation of polyadenylated nuclear RNA, a viral long noncoding RNA

Polyadenylate-binding protein cytoplasmic 1 (PABPC1) is a cytoplasmic-nuclear shuttling protein important for protein translation initiation and both RNA processing and stability. We report that PABPC1 forms a complex with the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) ORF57 protein, which allows ORF57 to interact with a 9-nucleotide (nt) core element of KSHV polyadenylated nuclear (PAN) RNA, a viral long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), and increase PAN stability. The N-terminal RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) of PABPC1 are necessary for the direct interaction with ORF57. During KSHV lytic infection, the expression of viral ORF57 leads to a substantial decrease in overall PABPC1 expression, along with a shift in the cellular distribution of the remaining PABPC1 to the nucleus. Interestingly, PABPC1 and ORF57 have opposing functions in modulating PAN steady-state accumulation. The suppressive effect of PABPC1 specific to PAN expression is alleviated by small interfering RNA knockdown of PABPC1 or by overexpression of ORF57. Conversely, ectopic PABPC1 reduces ORF57 steady-state protein levels and induces aberrant polyadenylation of PAN and thereby indirectly inhibits ORF57-mediated PAN accumulation. However, E1B-AP5 (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U-like 1), which interacts with a region outside the 9-nt core to stimulate PAN expression, does not interact or even colocalize with ORF57. Unlike PABPC1, the nuclear distribution of E1B-AP5 remains unchanged by viral lytic infection or overexpression of ORF57. Together, these data indicate that PABPC1 is an important cellular target of viral ORF57 to directly upregulate PAN accumulation during viral lytic infection, and the ability of host PABPC1 to disrupt ORF57 expression is a strategic host counterbalancing mechanism.

Translation initiation is driven by different mechanisms on the HIV-1 and HIV-2 genomic RNAs

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) unspliced full length genomic RNA possesses features of an eukaryotic cellular mRNA as it is capped at its 5' end and polyadenylated at its 3' extremity. This genomic RNA is used both for the production of the viral structural and enzymatic proteins (Gag and Pol, respectively) and as genome for encapsidation in the newly formed viral particle. Although both of these processes are critical for viral replication, they should be controlled in a timely manner for a coherent progression into the viral cycle. Some of this regulation is exerted at the level of translational control and takes place on the viral 5' untranslated region and the beginning of the gag coding region. In this review, we have focused on the different initiation mechanisms (cap- and internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent) that are used by the HIV-1 and HIV-2 genomic RNAs and the cellular and viral factors that can modulate their expression. Interestingly, although HIV-1 and HIV-2 share many similarities in the overall clinical syndrome they produce, in some aspects of their replication cycle, and in the structure of their respective genome, they exhibit some differences in the way that ribosomes are recruited on the gag mRNA to initiate translation and produce the viral proteins; this will be discussed in the light of the literature.

eIF2γ mutation that disrupts eIF2 complex integrity links intellectual disability to impaired translation initiation

Together with GTP and initiator methionyl-tRNA, translation initiation factor eIF2 forms a ternary complex that binds the 40S ribosome and then scans an mRNA to select the AUG start codon for protein synthesis. Here, we show that a human X-chromosomal neurological disorder characterized by intellectual disability and microcephaly is caused by a missense mutation in eIF2γ (encoded by EIF2S3), the core subunit of the heterotrimeric eIF2 complex. Biochemical studies of human cells overexpressing the eIF2γ mutant and of yeast eIF2γ with the analogous mutation revealed a defect in binding the eIF2β subunit to eIF2γ. Consistent with this loss of eIF2 integrity, the yeast eIF2γ mutation impaired translation start codon selection and eIF2 function in vivo in a manner that was suppressed by overexpressing eIF2β. These findings directly link intellectual disability to impaired translation initiation, and provide a mechanistic basis for the human disease due to partial loss of eIF2 function.

The mechanism of eukaryotic translation initiation: new insights and challenges

Translation initiation in eukaryotes is a highly regulated and complex stage of gene expression. It requires the action of at least 12 initiation factors, many of which are known to be the targets of regulatory pathways. Here we review our current understanding of the molecular mechanics of eukaryotic translation initiation, focusing on recent breakthroughs from in vitro and in vivo studies. We also identify important unanswered questions that will require new ideas and techniques to solve.

SLiMPrints: conservation-based discovery of functional motif fingerprints in intrinsically disordered protein regions

Large portions of higher eukaryotic proteomes are intrinsically disordered, and abundant evidence suggests that these unstructured regions of proteins are rich in regulatory interaction interfaces. A major class of disordered interaction interfaces are the compact and degenerate modules known as short linear motifs (SLiMs). As a result of the difficulties associated with the experimental identification and validation of SLiMs, our understanding of these modules is limited, advocating the use of computational methods to focus experimental discovery. This article evaluates the use of evolutionary conservation as a discriminatory technique for motif discovery. A statistical framework is introduced to assess the significance of relatively conserved residues, quantifying the likelihood a residue will have a particular level of conservation given the conservation of the surrounding residues. The framework is expanded to assess the significance of groupings of conserved residues, a metric that forms the basis of SLiMPrints (short linear motif fingerprints), a de novo motif discovery tool. SLiMPrints identifies relatively overconstrained proximal groupings of residues within intrinsically disordered regions, indicative of putatively functional motifs. Finally, the human proteome is analysed to create a set of highly conserved putative motif instances, including a novel site on translation initiation factor eIF2A that may regulate translation through binding of eIF4E.

The architecture of eukaryotic translation

Translation in baker’s yeast involves the coordinated interaction of 200 000 ribosomes, 3 000 000 tRNAs and between 15 000 and 60 000 mRNAs. It is currently unknown whether this specific constellation of components has particular relevance for the requirements of the yeast proteome, or whether this is simply a frozen accident. Our study uses a computational simulation model of the genome-wide translational apparatus of yeast to explore quantitatively which combinations of mRNAs, ribosomes and tRNAs can produce viable proteomes. Surprisingly, we find that if we only consider total translational activity over time without regard to composition of the proteome, then there are many and widely differing combinations that can generate equivalent synthesis yields. In contrast, translational activity required for generating specific proteomes can only be achieved within a much more constrained parameter space. Furthermore, we find that strongly ribosome limited regimes are optimal for cells in that they are resource efficient and simplify the dynamics of the system.

Genome-wide search for novel human uORFs and N-terminal protein extensions using ribosomal footprinting

So far, the annotation of translation initiation sites (TISs) has been based mostly upon bioinformatics rather than experimental evidence. We adapted ribosomal footprinting to puromycin-treated cells to generate a transcriptome-wide map of TISs in a human monocytic cell line. A neural network was trained on the ribosomal footprints observed at previously annotated AUG translation initiation codons (TICs), and used for the ab initio prediction of TISs in 5062 transcripts with sufficient sequence coverage. Functional interpretation suggested 2994 novel upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in the 5′ UTR, 1406 uORFs overlapping with the coding sequence, and 546 N-terminal protein extensions. The TIS detection method was validated on the basis of previously published alternative TISs and uORFs. Among primates, TICs in newly annotated TISs were significantly more conserved than control codons, both for AUGs and near-cognate codons. The transcriptome-wide map of novel candidate TISs derived as part of the study will shed further light on the way in which human proteome diversity is influenced by alternative translation initiation and regulation.

So you want to know if your message has an IRES?

Transcriptional regulation of gene expression has been widely studied. More recently, there has been increasing appreciation of the role that translational regulation plays in gene expression, resulting in a number of new fields engaging in translational studies. Regulation of protein synthesis is critical for cell growth, development, and survival, and is primarily controlled at the initiation step. Eukaryotic cells utilize multiple mechanisms to initiate translation, depending on cell stress, growth conditions, viral infection, or the sequences present in the mRNA. While the vast majority of mRNAs are translated in a cap-dependent manner, an important subset of mRNAs uses an alternative mechanism, whereby ribosomes are recruited internally to the message to initiate cap-independent translation. Some of these mRNAs contain an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) located in the 5' untranslated region (UTR). However, establishing that an RNA element is a functional IRES requires a number of carefully executed experiments with specific controls. This review will clearly explain the required experiments, and the pros and cons of various assays, used to determine whether (or not) an RNA element functions as an IRES to promote initiation of translation. We hope that demystifying the accepted methods for assaying IRES activity will open the study of this important mechanism to the broader community.

Functional characterization of the role of the N-terminal domain of the c/Nip1 subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) in AUG recognition

In eukaryotes, for a protein to be synthesized, the 40 S subunit has to first scan the 5′-UTR of the mRNA until it has encountered the AUG start codon. Several initiation factors that ensure high fidelity of AUG recognition were identified previously, including eIF1A, eIF1, eIF2, and eIF5. In addition, eIF3 was proposed to coordinate their functions in this process as well as to promote their initial binding to 40 S subunits. Here we subjected several previously identified segments of the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the eIF3c/Nip1 subunit, which mediates eIF3 binding to eIF1 and eIF5, to semirandom mutagenesis to investigate the molecular mechanism of eIF3 involvement in these reactions. Three major classes of mutant substitutions or internal deletions were isolated that affect either the assembly of preinitiation complexes (PICs), scanning for AUG, or both. We show that eIF5 binds to the extreme c/Nip1-NTD (residues 1–45) and that impairing this interaction predominantly affects the PIC formation. eIF1 interacts with the region (60–137) that immediately follows, and altering this contact deregulates AUG recognition. Together, our data indicate that binding of eIF1 to the c/Nip1-NTD is equally important for its initial recruitment to PICs and for its proper functioning in selecting the translational start site.

A mechanistic overview of translation initiation in eukaryotes

Translation initiation in eukaryotes is a complex and highly regulated process requiring the action of at least 12 protein factors. The pathway is distinguished by the formation of a pre-initiation complex that recruits the 5' end of the mRNA and scans along it to locate the start codon. During the past decade, a combination of genetics, biochemistry and structural studies has begun to illuminate key molecular events in this critical phase of gene expression. Here, we outline our current understanding of eukaryotic translation initiation and discuss important outstanding challenges.

The C-terminal domain of eukaryotic initiation factor 5 promotes start codon recognition by its dynamic interplay with eIF1 and eIF2β

Recognition of the proper start codon on mRNAs is essential for protein synthesis, which requires scanning and involves eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) eIF1, eIF1A, eIF2, and eIF5. The carboxyl terminal domain (CTD) of eIF5 stimulates 43S preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly; however, its precise role in scanning and start codon selection has remained unknown. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we identified the binding sites of eIF1 and eIF2β on eIF5-CTD and found that they partially overlapped. Mutating select eIF5 residues in the common interface specifically disrupts interaction with both factors. Genetic and biochemical evidence indicates that these eIF5-CTD mutations impair start codon recognition and impede eIF1 release from the PIC by abrogating eIF5-CTD binding to eIF2β. This study provides mechanistic insight into the role of eIF5-CTD's dynamic interplay with eIF1 and eIF2β in switching PICs from an open to a closed state at start codons.

Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 phosphorylation and translational control in metabolism

Regulation of mRNA translation is a rapid and effective means to couple changes in the cellular environment with global rates of protein synthesis. In response to stresses, such as nutrient deprivation and accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α~P) reduces general translation initiation while facilitating the preferential translation of select transcripts, such as that encoding activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a transcriptional activator of genes subject to the integrated stress response (ISR). In this review, we highlight the translational control processes regulated by nutritional stress, with an emphasis on the events triggered by eIF2α~P, and describe the family of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 kinases and the mechanisms by which each sense different stresses. We then address 3 questions. First, what are the mechanisms by which eIF2α~P confers preferential translation on select mRNA and what are the consequences of the gene expression induced by the ISR? Second, what are the molecular processes by which certain stresses can differentially activate eIF2α~P and ATF4 expression? The third question we address is what are the modes of cross-regulation between the ISR and other stress response pathways, such as the unfolded protein response and mammalian target of rapamycin, and how do these regulatory schemes provide for gene expression programs that are tailored for specific stresses? This review highlights recent advances in each of these areas of research, emphasizing how eIF2α~P and the ISR can affect metabolic health and disease.

The structure and function of the eukaryotic ribosome

Structures of the bacterial ribosome have provided a framework for understanding universal mechanisms of protein synthesis. However, the eukaryotic ribosome is much larger than it is in bacteria, and its activity is fundamentally different in many key ways. Recent cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions and X-ray crystal structures of eukaryotic ribosomes and ribosomal subunits now provide an unprecedented opportunity to explore mechanisms of eukaryotic translation and its regulation in atomic detail. This review describes the X-ray crystal structures of the Tetrahymena thermophila 40S and 60S subunits and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae 80S ribosome, as well as cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of translating yeast and plant 80S ribosomes. Mechanistic questions about translation in eukaryotes that will require additional structural insights to be resolved are also presented.

A new framework for understanding IRES-mediated translation

Studies over the past 5 or so years have indicated that the traditional clustering of mechanisms for translation initiation in eukaryotes into cap-dependent and cap-independent (or IRES-mediated) is far too narrow. From individual studies of a number of mRNAs encoding proteins that are regulatory in nature (i.e. likely to be needed in small amounts such as transcription factors, protein kinases, etc.), it is now evident that mRNAs exist that blur these boundaries. This review seeks to set the basic ground rules for the analysis of different initiation pathways that are associated with these new mRNAs as well as related to the more traditional mechanisms, especially the cap-dependent translational process that is the major route of initiation of mRNAs for housekeeping proteins and thus, the bulk of protein synthesis in most cells. It will become apparent that a mixture of descriptions is likely to become the norm in the near future (i.e. m(7)G-assisted internal initiation).

Stringency of start codon selection modulates autoregulation of translation initiation factor eIF5

An AUG in an optimal nucleotide context is the preferred translation initiation site in eukaryotic cells. Interactions among translation initiation factors, including eIF1 and eIF5, govern start codon selection. Experiments described here showed that high intracellular eIF5 levels reduced the stringency of start codon selection in human cells. In contrast, high intracellular eIF1 levels increased stringency. High levels of eIF5 induced translation of inhibitory upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in eIF5 mRNA that initiate with AUG codons in conserved poor contexts. This resulted in reduced translation from the downstream eIF5 start codon, indicating that eIF5 autoregulates its own synthesis. As with eIF1, which is also autoregulated through translation initiation, features contributing to eIF5 autoregulation show deep evolutionary conservation. The results obtained provide the basis for a model in which auto- and cross-regulation of eIF5 and eIF1 translation establish a regulatory feedback loop that would stabilize the stringency of start codon selection.

Specific domains in yeast translation initiation factor eIF4G strongly bias RNA unwinding activity of the eIF4F complex toward duplexes with 5'-overhangs

During eukaryotic translation initiation, the 43 S ribosomal pre-initiation complex is recruited to the 5'-end of an mRNA through its interaction with the 7-methylguanosine cap, and it subsequently scans along the mRNA to locate the start codon. Both mRNA recruitment and scanning require the removal of secondary structure within the mRNA. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A is an essential component of the translational machinery thought to participate in the clearing of secondary structural elements in the 5'-untranslated regions of mRNAs. eIF4A is part of the 5'-7-methylguanosine cap-binding complex, eIF4F, along with eIF4E, the cap-binding protein, and the scaffolding protein eIF4G. Here, we show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae eIF4F has a strong preference for unwinding an RNA duplex with a single-stranded 5'-overhang versus the same duplex with a 3'-overhang or without an overhang. In contrast, eIF4A on its own has little RNA substrate specificity. Using a series of deletion constructs of eIF4G, we demonstrate that its three previously elucidated RNA binding domains work together to provide eIF4F with its 5'-end specificity, both by promoting unwinding of substrates with 5'-overhangs and inhibiting unwinding of substrates with 3'-overhangs. Our data suggest that the RNA binding domains of eIF4G provide the S. cerevisiae eIF4F complex with a second mechanism, in addition to the eIF4E-cap interaction, for directing the binding of pre-initiation complexes to the 5'-ends of mRNAs and for biasing scanning in the 5' to 3' direction.

Structure of the ternary initiation complex aIF2-GDPNP-methionylated initiator tRNA

Eukaryotic and archaeal translation initiation factor 2 (e/aIF2) is a heterotrimeric GTPase that has a crucial role in the selection of the correct start codon on messenger RNA. We report the 5-Å resolution crystal structure of the ternary complex formed by archaeal aIF2 from Sulfolobus solfataricus, the GTP analog GDPNP and methionylated initiator tRNA. The 3D model is further supported by solution studies using small-angle X-ray scattering. The tRNA is bound by the α and γ subunits of aIF2. Contacts involve the elbow of the tRNA and the minor groove of the acceptor stem, but not the T-stem minor groove. We conclude that despite considerable structural homology between the core γ subunit of aIF2 and the elongation factor EF1A, these two G proteins of the translation apparatus use very different tRNA-binding strategies.

Alternative splicing within the elk-1 5' untranslated region serves to modulate initiation events downstream of the highly conserved upstream open reading frame 2

The 5' untranslated region (UTR) plays a central role in the regulation of mammalian translation initiation. Key components include RNA structure, upstream AUGs (uAUGs), upstream open reading frames (uORFs), and internal ribosome entry site elements that can interact to modulate the readout. We previously reported the characterization of two alternatively spliced 5' UTR isoforms of the human elk-1 gene. Both contain two uAUGs and a stable RNA stem-loop, but the long form (5' UTR(L)) was more repressive than the short form (5' UTR(S)) for initiation at the ELK-1 AUG. We now demonstrate that ELK-1 expression arises by a combination of leaky scanning and reinitiation, with the latter mediated by the small uORF2 conserved in both spliced isoforms. In HEK293T cells, a considerable fraction of ribosomes scans beyond the ELK-1 AUG in a reinitiation mode. These are sequestered by a series of out-of-frame AUG codons that serve to prevent access to a second in-frame AUG start site used to express short ELK-1 (sELK-1), an N-terminally truncated form of ELK-1 that has been observed only in neuronal cells. We present evidence that all these events are fine-tuned by the nature of the 5' UTR and the activity of the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 and provide insights into the neuronal specificity of sELK-1 expression.

Identification of intersubunit domain interactions within eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 2B, the nucleotide exchange factor for translation initiation

In eukaryotic translation initiation, eIF2B is the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) required for reactivation of the G protein eIF2 between rounds of protein synthesis initiation. eIF2B is unusually complex with five subunits (α–ϵ) necessary for GEF activity and its control by phosphorylation of eIF2α. In addition, inherited mutations in eIF2B cause a fatal leukoencephalopathy. Here we describe experiments examining domains of eIF2Bγ and ϵ that both share sequence and predicted tertiary structure similarity with a family of phospho-hexose sugar nucleotide pyrophosphorylases. Firstly, using a genetic approach, we find no evidence to support a significant role for a potential nucleotide-binding region within the pyrophosphorylase-like domain (PLD) of eIF2Bϵ for nucleotide exchange. These findings are at odds with one mechanism for nucleotide exchange proposed previously. By using a series of constructs and a co-expression and precipitation strategy, we find that the eIF2Bϵ and -γ PLDs and a shared second domain predicted to form a left-handed β helix are all critical for interprotein interactions between eIF2B subunits necessary for eIF2B complex formation. We have identified extensive interactions between the PLDs and left-handed β helix domains that form the eIF2Bγϵ subcomplex and propose a model for domain interactions between eIF2B subunits.

Inhibitors of translation targeting eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A

The RNA helicases eIF4AI and eIF4AII play key roles in recruiting ribosomes to mRNA templates during eukaryotic translation initiation. Small molecule inhibitors of eIF4AI and eIF4AII have been useful for chemically dissecting their role in translation in vitro and in vivo. Here, we describe a screen performed on a small focused library of kinase inhibitors to identify a novel helicase inhibitor. We describe assays that have been critical for characterizing novel RNA helicase inhibitors.