Substitution of proline 82 by threonine induces autophosphorylating activity in GTP-binding domain of elongation factor Tu

Evolutionary analysis of p38 stress-activated kinases in unicellular relatives of animals suggests an ancestral function in osmotic stress

p38 kinases are key elements of the cellular stress response in animals. They mediate the cell response to a multitude of stress stimuli, from osmotic shock to inflammation and oncogenes. However, it is unknown how such diversity of function in stress evolved in this kinase subfamily. Here, we show that the p38 kinase was already present in a common ancestor of animals and fungi. Later, in animals, it diversified into three JNK kinases and four p38 kinases. Moreover, we identified a fifth p38 paralog in fishes and amphibians. Our analysis shows that each p38 paralog has specific amino acid substitutions around the hinge point, a region between the N-terminal and C-terminal protein domains. We showed that this region can be used to distinguish between individual paralogs and predict their specificity. Finally, we showed that the response to hyperosmotic stress in Capsaspora owczarzaki, a close unicellular relative of animals, follows a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation pattern typical of p38 kinases. At the same time, Capsaspora's cells upregulate the expression of GPD1 protein resembling an osmotic stress response in yeasts. Overall, our results show that the ancestral p38 stress pathway originated in the root of opisthokonts, most likely as a cell's reaction to salinity change in the environment. In animals, the pathway became more complex and incorporated more stimuli and downstream targets due to the p38 sequence evolution in the docking and substrate binding sites around the hinge region. This study improves our understanding of p38 evolution and opens new perspectives for p38 research.

Regulation of GTPase function by autophosphorylation

A unifying feature of the RAS superfamily is a conserved GTPase cycle by which these proteins transition between active and inactive states. We demonstrate that autophosphorylation of some GTPases is an intrinsic regulatory mechanism that reduces nucleotide hydrolysis and enhances nucleotide exchange, altering the on/off switch that forms the basis for their signaling functions. Using X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, binding assays, and molecular dynamics on autophosphorylated mutants of H-RAS and K-RAS, we show that phosphoryl transfer from GTP requires dynamic movement of the switch II region and that autophosphorylation promotes nucleotide exchange by opening the active site and extracting the stabilizing Mg2+. Finally, we demonstrate that autophosphorylated K-RAS exhibits altered effector interactions, including a reduced affinity for RAF proteins in mammalian cells. Thus, autophosphorylation leads to altered active site dynamics and effector interaction properties, creating a pool of GTPases that are functionally distinct from their non-phosphorylated counterparts.

Bacterial elongation factors EF-Tu, their mutants, chimeric forms, and domains: isolation and purification

Prokaryotic elongation factors EF-Tu form a family of homologous, three-domain molecular switches catalyzing the binding of aminoacyl-tRNAs to ribosomes during the process of mRNA translation. They are GTP-binding proteins, or GTPases. Binding of GTP or GDP regulates their conformation and thus their activity. Because of their particular structure and regulation, various activities (also outside of the translation system) and a relative abundance they represent attractive tools for studies of many basic but still not fully understood mechanisms both of the translation process, the structure-function relationships in EF-Tu molecules themselves and proteins and energy transduction mechanisms in general. The review critically summarizes procedures for the isolation and purification of native and engineered eubacterial elongation factors EF-Tu and their mutants on a large as well as small scale. Current protocols for the purification of both native and polyHis-tagged or glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-tagged EF-Tu proteins and their variants using conventional procedures and the Ni-NTA-Agarose or Glutathione Sepharose are presented.

Analysis of the dynamicBacillus subtilis Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphoproteome implicated in a wide variety of cellular processes

The physiological role of proteins phosphorylated on serine/threonine/tyrosine (Ser/Thr/Tyr) residues or the identity of the corresponding kinases and phosphatases is generally poorly understood in bacteria. As a first step in analysing the importance of such phosphorylation, we sought to establish the nature of the Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphoproteome in Bacillus subtilis, using in vivo labelling with [(32)P]-orthophosphate, one-unit pH 2-DE, combined with MS. Highly reproducible 2-D profiles of phosphoproteins were obtained with early stationary-phase cells. The 2-D profiles contained at least 80 clearly labelled spots in the pH range 4-7. Forty-six spots were analysed by MS (confirmed in most cases by LC-MS/MS), identifying a total of 29 different proteins, with 19 identified for the first time as bacterial phosphoproteins. These phosphoproteins are implicated in a wide variety of cellular processes, including carbon and energy metabolism, transport, stress and development. Significant changes to the profiles were obtained as a result of cold, heat or osmotic shock, demonstrating that, in stationary-phase cells, the phosphoproteome is dynamic. An initial comparative study indicated that at least 25 [(32)P]-labelled spots were also stained by Pro-Q Diamond, with apparently six additional phosphoproteins uniquely detected by Pro-Q.

Opposite roles of domains 2+3 of Escherichia coli EF-Tu and Bacillus stearothermophilus EF-Tu in the regulation of EF-Tu GTPase activity

The effect of noncatalytic domains 2+3 on the intrinsic activity and thermostability of the EF-Tu GTPase center was evaluated in experiments with isolated domains 1 and six chimeric variants of mesophilic Escherichia coli (Ec) and thermophilic Bacillus stearothermophilus (Bst) EF-Tus. The isolated catalytic domains 1 of both EF-Tus displayed similar GTPase activities at their optimal temperatures. However, noncatalytic domains 2+3 of the EF-Tus influenced the GTPase activity of domains 1 differently, depending on the domain origin. Ecdomains 2+3 suppressed the GTPase activity of the Ecdomain 1, whereas those of BstEF-Tu stimulated the Bstdomain 1 GTPase. Domain 1 and domains 2+3 of both EF-Tus positively cooperated to heat-stabilize their GTPase centers to attain optimal activity at a temperature close to the optimal growth temperature of either organism. This can be explained by a stabilization effect of domains 2+3 on alpha-helical regions of the G-domain as revealed by CD spectroscopy.

Mechanisms of EF-Tu, a pioneer GTPase

This review considers several aspects of the function of EF-Tu, a protein that has greatly contributed to the advancement of our knowledge of both protein biosynthesis and GTP-binding proteins in general. A number of topics are described with emphasis on the function-structure relationships, in particular of EF-Tu's domains, the nucleotide-binding site, and the magnesium-binding network. Aspects related to the interaction with macromolecular ligands and antibiotics and to folding and GTPase activity are also presented and discussed. Comments and criticism are offered to draw attention to remaining discrepancies and problems.

Nucleotide sequence and molecular characterization of a gene encoding GTP-binding protein from Streptococcus gordonii

A 1286-bp fragment of chromosomal DNA from Streptococcus gordonii strain Challis was cloned and sequenced. The gene sgg consisted of 897-bp nucleotides encoding a 299-amino acid polypeptide (33,200 Da). The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited significant similarity to Era, G protein of Escherichia coli. The nucleotide binding assay demonstrated that recombinant Sgg bound [32P]GTP but not [32P]ATP, [32P]CTP, or [32P]UTP. These findings indicate that Sgg is a member of the G protein superfamily in the genus Streptococcus.

Messenger RNA translation in prokaryotes: GTPase centers associated with translational factors

During the decoding of messenger RNA, each step of the translational cycle requires the intervention of protein factors and the hydrolysis of one or more GTP molecule(s). Of the prokaryotic translational factors, IF2, EF-Tu, SELB, EF-G and RF3 are GTP-binding proteins. In this review we summarize the latest findings on the structures and the roles of these GTPases in the translational process.

Characterization of the autophosphorylation of Era, an essential Escherichia coli GTPase

Era is an essential protein in Escherichia coli which binds both GTP and GDP and has an intrinsic GTPase activity. Studies on the role of GTP/GDP binding and GTPase activity in an attempt to understand its function lead to the observation that Era is autophosphorylated. The autophosphorylation reaction is specific for GTP and cannot use ATP as a phosphoryl group donor. The reaction velocity is of first order with respect to protein concentration, suggesting an intramolecular mechanism. Autophosphorylation occurs at serine and threonine residues. The major phosphorylated tryptic peptide isolated after autophosphorylation has been identified as ISITSR, from residue 33 to 38. The peptide contains the site of phosphorylation and two potential sites for serine and threonine phosphorylation. Subsequently, both the threonine residue at position 36 and the serine residue at position 37 were altered to alanine. The double mutant Era, but not individual single mutants, was unable to functionally complement the growth of an E. coli strain which cannot produce wild-type Era protein at high temperature. This suggests that either threonine 36 or serine 37 has to exist for the function of Era in vivo. In vivo phosphorylation of Era was also examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Era has been previously assigned two distinct positions having two different X-Y co-ordinates: one of the spots (H032.0) was identified as phosphorylated Era, indicating that a substantial portion of Era in the cell is indeed phosphorylated. Therefore, Era autophosphorylation is likely to play an important physiological role in the cell.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In vivo study of engineered G-domain mutants of Escherichia coli translation initiation factor IF2

During the IF2-catalysed formation of the 30S initiation complex, the GTP requirement and its subsequent hydrolysis during 70S complex formation are considered to be essential for translation initiation in Escherichia coli. In order to clarify the role of certain amino acid residues believed to be crucial for the GTP hydrolytic activity of E. coli IF2, we have introduced seven single amino acid substitutions into its GTP-binding site (Gly for Val-400; Thr for Pro-446; Gly, Glu, Gln for His-448; and Asn, Glu for Asp-501). These mutated IF2 proteins were expressed in vivo in physiological quantities and tested for their ability to maintain the growth of an E. coli strain from which the functional chromosomal copy of the infB gene has been deleted. Only one of the mutated proteins (Asp-501 to Glu) was able to sustain cell viability and several displayed a dominant negative effect. These results emphasize that the amino acid residues we substituted are essential for the IF2 functions and demonstrate the importance of GTP hydrolysis in translation initiation. These findings are discussed in relation to a previously proposed theoretical model for the IF2 G-domain.

Site-directed mutagenesis of elongation factor Tu. The functional and structural role of residue Cys81

A Cys residue located in the second consensus sequence element (DCPG) of the GTP-binding region is highly conserved in bacterial elongation factors (EF) Tu. Chemical modification of this Cys81 in EF-Tu from Escherichia coli by N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethane [Jonák, J., Petersen, T. E., Clark, B. F. C. & Rychlík, I. (1982) FEBS Lett. 150, 485-488], and of homologous Cys residues in other bacterial EF-Tu, selectively blocks the binding of Xaa-tRNA. We have substituted Cys81 with Gly using site-directed mutagenesis of the EF-Tu-encoding tuf A gene. This substitution induces a partial inhibition (20-70%) of: (a) poly(U)-directed poly(Phe) synthesis; (b) EF-Tu/Xaa-tRNA interaction, determined as protection by EF-Tu of the non-enzymic deacylation of Xaa-tRNA; (c) EF-Tu-dependent binding of Xaa-tRNA to the mRNA/ribosome complex and (d) the intrinsic GTPase reaction, that is also less sensitive to stimulation by Xaa-tRNA. Our results thus provide evidence that Cys81, though important, is not essential for the binding of Xaa-tRNA to EF-Tu. The accuracy in poly(Phe) synthesis, measured as misincorporation of Leu, was increased. Both the binding affinity of [C81G]EF-Tu for the nucleotide and the resistance against thermal denaturation are more strongly decreased in the case of the GDP-bound state than in the case of the GTP-bound state, suggesting that Cys81 plays a more specific role in the former conformation. The sensitivity to N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethane is decreased by 80% but not totally lost. The inhibition by N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethane treatment of the function of EF-Tu appears to be a consequence of steric hindrance and/or of an altered conformation of EF-Tu.GTP. The lower activities of [C81G]EF-Tu are probably due to long-range effects, mediated by an overall destabilization of the molecule that is particularly pronounced for the GDP-bound state.

Elongation factor Tu: a molecular switch in protein biosynthesis

Elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu), the most abundant protein in Escherichia coli, is a guanine nucleotide-binding protein that in the 'on' state acts as a carrier of amino acyl-tRNA to the ribosome. Our knowledge of this essential component of translation has brought substantial progress in the past decade thanks to the co-ordinated application of biochemical, physico-chemical and genetic methods. Crystallographic analysis at 2.6 A resolution and site-directed mutagenesis have revealed structural and functional similarities between the guanine nucleotide-binding domains of EF-Tu and human H-ras p21 protein. The regulation of the expression of the two EF-Tu-encoding genes in E. coli, particularly that of tufB, has been shown to involve diverse mechanisms. Several aspects of the functions of EF-Tu in the elongation cycle have been reinvestigated, leading to new insights. These studies have emphasized the manifold aspects of the mechanisms regulating the activity of EF-Tu in the bacterial cell.

Effects of ions on the intrinsic activities of c-H-ras protein p21. A comparison with elongation factor Tu

The influence of the ionic environment on the intrinsic GTPase activity and the guanine-nucleotide interaction of Ha-ras protein p21 were studied in various experimental conditions and compared with the behaviour of elongation factor (EF) Tu. To this purpose, nucleotide-free p21 was prepared, which is much more stable than by any other reported method. Specific differences between p21 and EF-Tu were found in the action of divalent anions which strongly enhance the dissociation rate of p21.GDP without affecting that of EF-Tu. Unlike EF-Tu, the GTPase activity of p21 is only slightly dependent on the presence and concentration of monovalent cations. The concentrations of Mg2+ influencing the dissociation rate of the p21.GDP complex are much higher than for the intrinsic GTPase activity, an effect also observed for EF-Tu. These results point to two distinct roles of Mg2+: as a conformational regulator of the interaction with the substrate and as a key element for the hydrolysis of GTP. The GTPase activity of p21 is not affected by changes in pH over the range 6-9.2, different from that of EF-Tu. However, stabilization by kirromycin confers a pH independence to the GTPase of EF-Tu in the pH range 6.5-10, suggesting that the bell-shaped behaviour of this activity in the absence of the antibiotic is due to denaturation. This implies similar properties in the catalytic mechanism of these two guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins.

NMR study of the phosphate-binding elements of Escherichia coli elongation factor Tu catalytic domain

The phosphoryl-binding elements in the GDP-binding domain of elongation factor Tu were studied by heteronuclear proton observe methods. Five proton resonances were found below 10.5 ppm. Two of these were assigned to the amide groups of Lys 24 and Gly 83. These are conserved residues in each of the consensus sequences. Their uncharacteristic downfield proton shifts are attributed to strong hydrogen bonds to phosphate oxygens as for resonances in N-ras-p21 [Redfield, A. G., & Papastavros, M. Z. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 3509-3514]. The Lys 24 of the EF-Tu G-domain has nearly the same proton and nitrogen shifts as the corresponding Lys 16 in p21. These results suggest that this conserved lysine has a similar structural role in proteins in this class. The tentative Gly 83 resonance has no spectral analogue in p21. A mutant protein with His 84 changed to glycine was fully 15N-labeled and the proton resonance assigned to Gly 83 shifted downfield by 0.3 ppm, thereby supporting the assignment.

Structure-function relationships of elongation factor Tu as studied by mutagenesis

We have modified elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) from Escherichia coli via mutagenesis of its encoding tufA gene to study its function-structure relationships. The isolation of the N-terminal half molecule of EF-Tu (G domain) has facilitated the analysis of the basic EF-Tu activities, since the G domain binds the substrate GTP/GDP, catalyzes the GTP hydrolysis and is not exposed to the allosteric constraints of the intact molecule. So far, the best studied region has been the guanine nucleotide-binding pocket defined by the consensus elements typical for the GTP-binding proteins. In this area most substitutions were carried out in the G domain and were found to influence GTP hydrolysis. In particular, the mutation VG20 (in both G domain and EF-Tu) decreases this activity and enhances the GDP to GTP exchange; PT82 induces autophosphorylation of Thr82 and HG84 strongly affects the GTPase without altering the interaction with the substrate. SD173, a residue interacting with (O)6 of the guanine, abolishes the GTP and GDP binding activity. Substitution of residues Gln114 and Glu117, located in the proximity of the GTP binding pocket, influences respectively the GTPase and the stability of the G domain, whereas the double replacement VD88/LK121, located on alpha-helices bordering the GTP-binding pocket, moderately reduces the stability of the G domain without greatly affecting GTPase and interaction with GTP(GDP). Concerning the effect of ligands, EF-TuVG20 supports a lower poly(Phe) synthesis but is more accurate than wild-type EF-Tu, probably due to a longer pausing on the ribosome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Elongation factor Tu is methylated in response to nutrient deprivation in Escherichia coli

It has been shown previously that starvation of a mid-logarithmic-phase culture of Escherichia coli B/r for an essential nutrient results in the methylation of a membrane-associated protein (P-43) (C. C. Young and R. W. Bernlohr, J. Bacteriol. 172:5147-5153, 1990). In this communication, the purification of P-43 and sequence analysis of cyanogen bromide-generated peptide fragments identified P-43 as elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu). This was confirmed by the ability of anti-EF-Tu antibody to precipitate P-43. We propose that the nutrient-dependent methylation of EF-Tu may be involved in the regulation of growth, possibly as a principal component of an unidentified signal transduction pathway in bacteria.

Mutagenesis of the NH2-terminal domain of elongation factor Tu

Mutagenesis was carried out in the N-terminal domain of elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) to characterize the structure-function relationships of this model GTP binding protein with respect to stability, the interaction with GTP and GDP, and the catalytic activity. The substitutions were introduced in elements around the guanine nucleotide binding site or in the loops defining this site, in the intact molecule or in the isolated N-terminal domain (G domain). The double substitution Val88----Asp and Leu121----Lys, two residues situated on two vicinal alpha-helices, influences the basic activities of the truncated factor to a limited extent, probably via long-range interactions, and induces a destabilisation of the G domain structure. The functional alterations brought about by substitutions on the consensus sequences 18-24 and 80-83 highlight the importance of these residues for the interaction with GTP/GDP and the GTPase activity. Mutations concerning residues interacting with the guanine base lead to proteins in large part insoluble and inactive. In one case, the mutated protein (EF-TuAsn135----Asp) inhibited the growth of the host cell. This demonstrates the crucial role of the base specificity for the active conformation of EF-Tu. The obtained results are discussed in the light of the three-dimensional structure of EF-Tu.