NMR assignments of the C-terminal domain of human polypeptide release factor eRF1

Backbone (1)H, (13)C and (15)N resonance assignments of the human eukaryotic release factor eRF1

Eukaryotic translation termination is mediated by two interacting release factors, eukaryotic class 1 release factor (eRF1) and eukaryotic class 3 release factor (eRF3), which act cooperatively to ensure efficient stop codon recognition and fast polypeptide release. eRF1 consisting of three well-defined functional domains recognizes all three mRNA stop codons located in the A site of the small ribosomal subunit and triggers hydrolysis of the ester bond of peptidyl-tRNA in the peptidyl transfer center of the large ribosomal subunit. Nevertheless, various aspects of molecular mechanism of translation termination in eukaryotes remain unclear. Elucidation of the structure and dynamics of eRF1 in solution is essential for understanding molecular mechanism of its function in translation termination. To approach this problem, here we report NMR backbone signal assignments of the human eRF1 (437 a.a., 50 kDa).

Selectivity of stop codon recognition in translation termination is modulated by multiple conformations of GTS loop in eRF1

Translation termination in eukaryotes is catalyzed by two release factors eRF1 and eRF3 in a cooperative manner. The precise mechanism of stop codon discrimination by eRF1 remains obscure, hindering drug development targeting aberrations at translation termination. By solving the solution structures of the wild-type N-domain of human eRF1 exhibited omnipotent specificity, i.e. recognition of all three stop codons, and its unipotent mutant with UGA-only specificity, we found the conserved GTS loop adopting alternate conformations. We propose that structural variability in the GTS loop may underline the switching between omnipotency and unipotency of eRF1, implying the direct access of the GTS loop to the stop codon. To explore such feasibility, we positioned N-domain in a pre-termination ribosomal complex using the binding interface between N-domain and model RNA oligonucleotides mimicking Helix 44 of 18S rRNA. NMR analysis revealed that those duplex RNA containing 2-nt internal loops interact specifically with helix α1 of N-domain, and displace C-domain from a non-covalent complex of N-domain and C-domain, suggesting domain rearrangement in eRF1 that accompanies N-domain accommodation into the ribosomal A site.

NMR solution structure and function of the C-terminal domain of eukaryotic class 1 polypeptide chain release factor

Termination of translation in eukaryotes is triggered by two polypeptide chain release factors, eukaryotic class 1 polypeptide chain release factor (eRF1) and eukaryotic class 2 polypeptide chain release factor 3. eRF1 is a three-domain protein that interacts with eukaryotic class 2 polypeptide chain release factor 3 via its C-terminal domain (C-domain). The high-resolution NMR structure of the human C-domain (residues 277–437) has been determined in solution. The overall fold and the structure of the β-strand core of the protein in solution are similar to those found in the crystal structure. The structure of the minidomain (residues 329–372), which was ill-defined in the crystal structure, has been determined in solution. The protein backbone dynamics, studied using ¹⁵N-relaxation experiments, showed that the C-terminal tail 414–437 and the minidomain are the most flexible parts of the human C-domain. The minidomain exists in solution in two conformational states, slowly interconverting on the NMR timescale. Superposition of this NMR solution structure of the human C-domain onto the available crystal structure of full-length human eRF1 shows that the minidomain is close to the stop codon-recognizing N-terminal domain. Mutations in the tip of the minidomain were found to affect the stop codon specificity of the factor. The results provide new insights into the possible role of the C-domain in the process of translation termination.

NMR solution structure and function of the C-terminal domain of eukaryotic class 1 polypeptide chain release factor

Termination of translation in eukaryotes is triggered by two polypeptide chain release factors, eukaryotic class 1 polypeptide chain release factor (eRF1) and eukaryotic class 2 polypeptide chain release factor 3. eRF1 is a three-domain protein that interacts with eukaryotic class 2 polypeptide chain release factor 3 via its C-terminal domain (C-domain). The high-resolution NMR structure of the human C-domain (residues 277-437) has been determined in solution. The overall fold and the structure of the beta-strand core of the protein in solution are similar to those found in the crystal structure. The structure of the minidomain (residues 329-372), which was ill-defined in the crystal structure, has been determined in solution. The protein backbone dynamics, studied using (15)N-relaxation experiments, showed that the C-terminal tail 414-437 and the minidomain are the most flexible parts of the human C-domain. The minidomain exists in solution in two conformational states, slowly interconverting on the NMR timescale. Superposition of this NMR solution structure of the human C-domain onto the available crystal structure of full-length human eRF1 shows that the minidomain is close to the stop codon-recognizing N-terminal domain. Mutations in the tip of the minidomain were found to affect the stop codon specificity of the factor. The results provide new insights into the possible role of the C-domain in the process of translation termination.