Binding of formylmethionyl-tRNA to 30S ribosomal sub-units

A Complementary Mechanism of Bacterial mRNA Translation Inhibition by Tetracyclines

Tetracycline has positively impacted human health as well as the farming and animal industries. Its extensive usage and versatility led to the spread of resistance mechanisms followed by the development of new variants of the antibiotic. Tetracyclines inhibit bacterial growth by impeding the binding of elongator tRNAs to the ribosome. However, a small number of reports indicated that Tetracyclines could also inhibit translation initiation, yet the molecular mechanism remained unknown. Here, we use biochemical and computational methods to study how Oxytetracycline (Otc), Demeclocycline (Dem), and Tigecycline (Tig) affect the translation initiation phase of protein synthesis. Our results show that all three Tetracyclines induce Initiation Factor IF3 to adopt a compact conformation on the 30S ribosomal subunit, similar to that induced by Initiation Factor IF1. This compaction was faster for Tig than Dem or Otc. Furthermore, all three tested tetracyclines affected IF1-bound 30S complexes. The dissociation rate constant of IF1 in early 30S complexes was 14-fold slower for Tig than Dem or Otc. Late 30S initiation complexes (30S pre-IC or IC) exhibited greater IF1 stabilization by Tig than for Dem and Otc. Tig and Otc delayed 50S joining to 30S initiation complexes (30S ICs). Remarkably, the presence of Tig considerably slowed the progression to translation elongation and retained IF1 in the resulting 70S initiation complex (70S IC). Molecular modeling of Tetracyclines bound to the 30S pre-IC and 30S IC indicated that the antibiotics binding site topography fluctuates along the initiation pathway. Mainly, 30S complexes show potential contacts between Dem or Tig with IF1, providing a structural rationale for the enhanced affinity of the antibiotics in the presence of the factor. Altogether, our data indicate that Tetracyclines inhibit translation initiation by allosterically perturbing the IF3 layout on the 30S, retaining IF1 during 70S IC formation, and slowing the transition toward translation elongation. Thus, this study describes a new complementary mechanism by which Tetracyclines may inhibit bacterial protein synthesis.

A Retrospective on eIF2A-and Not the Alpha Subunit of eIF2

Initiation of protein synthesis in eukaryotes is a complex process requiring more than 12 different initiation factors, comprising over 30 polypeptide chains. The functions of many of these factors have been established in great detail; however, the precise role of some of them and their mechanism of action is still not well understood. Eukaryotic initiation factor 2A (eIF2A) is a single chain 65 kDa protein that was initially believed to serve as the functional homologue of prokaryotic IF2, since eIF2A and IF2 catalyze biochemically similar reactions, i.e., they stimulate initiator Met-tRNAi binding to the small ribosomal subunit. However, subsequent identification of a heterotrimeric 126 kDa factor, eIF2 (α,β,γ) showed that this factor, and not eIF2A, was primarily responsible for the binding of Met-tRNAi to 40S subunit in eukaryotes. It was found however, that eIF2A can promote recruitment of Met-tRNAi to 40S/mRNA complexes under conditions of inhibition of eIF2 activity (eIF2α-phosphorylation), or its absence. eIF2A does not function in major steps in the initiation process, but is suggested to act at some minor/alternative initiation events such as re-initiation, internal initiation, or non-AUG initiation, important for translational control of specific mRNAs. This review summarizes our current understanding of the eIF2A structure and function.

Translation Initiation

Selection of correct start codons on messenger RNAs is a key step required for faithful translation of the genetic message. Such a selection occurs in a complex process, during which a translation-competent ribosome assembles, eventually having in its P site a specialized methionyl-tRNAMet base-paired with the start codon on the mRNA. This chapter summarizes recent advances describing at the molecular level the successive steps involved in the process. Special emphasis is put on the roles of the three initiation factors and of the initiator tRNA, which are crucial for the efficiency and the specificity of the process. In particular, structural analyses concerning complexes containing ribosomal subunits, as well as detailed kinetic studies, have shed new light on the sequence of events leading to faithful initiation of protein synthesis in Bacteria.

Breakdown by streptomycin of initiation complexes formed on ribosomes of Escherichia coli

Streptomycin induces breakdown of the completed 70S initiation complex on ribosomes of Escherichia coli, but it does not interfere with any step in the formation of the complex. Moreover, it does not appear to interact with the ribosome in any special way during initiation, since the kinetics of breakdown are the same whether streptomycin is added before formation of the initiation complex, or after its completion, or (as previously observed) after formation of a polypeptide. fMet-tRNA is released as such, without chain elongation; it is released from a puromycin-reactive ("P") site. Streptomycin thus appears to distort not only the A site of the ribosome (as suggested earlier) but also the P site.

A new protein synthesis factor from Escherichia coli

A new factor that effects protein synthesis by Escherichia coli extracts was partially purified from the 1 M NH(4)Cl wash of E. coli ribosomes. This factor stimulates the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to 30S ribosomes, and it increases the rate of synthesis of polyphenylalanine in the presence of 30S and 50S subunits.

Polypeptide chain initiation in E. coli: studies on the function of initiation factor F1

The requirement of initiation factors F(1) (highly purified) and F(2) (electrophoretically homogeneous) for ribosomal binding of N-formylmethionyl transfer RNA (fMet approximately tRNA) at low Mg(2+) concentration (3.5 mM), with the trinucleoside diphosphate ApUpG as messenger, was studied under various experimental conditions with 30S + 50S ribosomes and with 30S subunits alone. The results were qualitatively the same in both cases but the amount of binding was two to three times higher when both 30S and 50S subunits were present. Although there was a virtually absolute requirement for F(2) in all cases, considerable binding occurred at 0 degrees in the absence of added F(1). F(1) addition stimulated binding up to twofold under these conditions. However, at 25 degrees , the temperature at which the reaction is usually carried out, there was very little binding with F(2) alone and addition of F(1) stimulated the reaction five- to sixfold. Contrary to current belief, the GTP analog 5'-guanylyldiphosphonate (GMP-PCP) cannot replace GTP in the binding reaction. In particular, there was but little stimulation of binding (about 1.5-fold) by addition of F(1) to F(2)-containing samples when GMP-PCP was used. In marked contrast, binding was stimulated up to sevenfold by addition of F(1) when GTP was substituted for the analog. Under these conditions, there was an ApUpG and F(1)-dependent hydrolysis of GTP. This is observable with 30S subunits alone and can hardly be related to the occurrence of translocation. The results may be interpreted to mean that a complex relatively stable at 0 degrees , but less stable at 25 degrees , is formed upon addition of F(2) alone. Conversion of the less stable to the more stable form of complex is made possible by addition of F(1). This is accompanied or mediated by cleavage of GTP.

Ribosome-catalyzed peptidyl transfer: substrate specificity at the P-site

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