Polypeptide chain initiation in eukaryotes: reversibility of the ternary complex-forming reaction

Identification of caspase 3-mediated cleavage and functional alteration of eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha in apoptosis

Induction of apoptosis in a variety of cell types leads to inhibition of protein synthesis. Recently, the cleavage of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) by caspase 3 was described as a possible event contributing to translation inhibition. Here, we report the cleavage of another initiation factor in apoptotic cells, eIF2alpha, that could contribute to regulation of translation during apoptosis. This cleavage event could be completely inhibited by pretreatment of HeLa cells with Z-VAD-fmk. In vitro analysis using purified eIF2 and purified caspases showed cleavage of eIF2alpha by caspase 3, 6, 8, and 10 but not 9. Caspase 3 most efficiently cleaved eIF2alpha and this could be inhibited by addition of Ac-DEVD-CHO in vitro. Comparison of cleavage of phosphorylated versus nonphosphorylated eIF2alpha revealed a modest preference of the caspases for the nonphosphorylated form. When eIF2. 2B complex was used as substrate, only caspase 3 was capable of eIF2alpha cleavage, which was not affected by phosphorylation of the alpha subunit. The eIF2.GDP binary complex was cleaved much less efficiently by caspase 3. Sequence analysis of the cleavage fragment suggested that the cleavage site is located in the C-terminal portion of the protein. Analysis showed that after caspase cleavage, exchange of GDP bound to eIF2 was very rapid and no longer dependent upon eIF2B. Furthermore, in vitro translation experiments indicated that cleavage of eIF2alpha results in functional alteration of the eIF2 complex, which no longer stimulated upstream AUG selection on a mRNA containing a viral internal ribosome entry site and was no longer capable of stimulating overall translation. In conclusion, we describe here the cleavage of a translation initiation factor, eIF2alpha that could contribute to inhibition or alteration of protein synthesis during the late stages of apoptosis.

Escherichia coli cell division protein FtsZ is a guanine nucleotide binding protein

FtsZ is an essential cell division protein in Escherichia coli that forms a ring structure at the division site under cell cycle control. The dynamic nature of the FtsZ ring suggests possible similarities to eukaryotic filament forming proteins such as tubulin. In this study we have determined that FtsZ is a GTP/GDP binding protein with GTPase activity. A short segment of FtsZ is homologous to a segment in tubulin believed to be involved in the interaction between tubulin and guanine nucleotides. A lethal ftsZ mutation, ftsZ3 (Rsa), that leads to an amino acid alteration in this homologous segment decreased GTP binding and hydrolysis, suggesting that interaction with GTP is essential for ftsZ function.

A novel role for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in the regulation of polypeptide chain initiation

Exposure of the temperature-sensitive leucyl-tRNA synthetase mutant of Chinese hamster ovary cells, tsH1, to the non-permissive temperature of 39.5 degrees C results in a rapid inhibition of polypeptide chain initiation. This inhibition is caused by a reduced ability of the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF-2 to participate in the formation of eIF-2.GTP.Met-tRNAf ternary complexes and thus in the formation of 43S ribosomal pre-initiation complexes. Associated with this decreased eIF-2 activity is an increased phosphorylation of the eIF-2 alpha subunit. It has previously been shown in other systems that phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha slows the rate of recycling of eIF-2.GDP to eIF-2.GTP catalysed by the guanine nucleotide exchange factor eIF-2B. We show here that phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha by the reticulocyte haem-controlled repressor also inhibits eIF-2B activity in cell-free extracts derived from tsH1 cells. Thus the observed increased phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha at the non-permissive temperature in this system is consistent with impaired recycling of eIF-2 in vivo. Using a single-step temperature revertant of tsH1 cells, TR-3 (which has normal leucyl-tRNA synthetase activity at 39.5 degrees C), we demonstrate here that all inhibition of eIF-2 function reverts together with the synthetase mutation. This establishes the close link between synthetase function and eIF-2 activity. In contrast, recharging tRNALeu in vivo in tsH1 cells at 39.5 degrees C by treatment with a low concentration of cycloheximide failed to reverse the inhibition of eIF-2 function. This indicates that tRNA charging per se is not involved in the regulatory mechanism. Our data indicate a novel role for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in the regulation of eIF-2 function mediated through phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of this factor. However, in spite of the fact that cell-free extracts from Chinese hamster ovary cells contain protein kinase and phosphatase activities active against either exogenous or endogenous eIF-2 alpha, we have been unable to show any activation of kinase or inactivation of phosphatase following incubation of the cells at 39.5 degrees C.

Initiation of protein synthesis in a cell-free system prepared from rat hepatocytes

A cell-free system, which maintained a linear rate of protein synthesis for up to 20 min of incubation, was prepared from isolated rat hepatocytes. The rate of protein synthesis in the cell-free system was approximately 20% of the rate obtained in isolated hepatocytes or perfused liver. More than 70% of total protein synthesis in the cell-free system was due to reinitiation, as indicated by addition of inhibitors of initiation, i.e., edeine or polyvinyl sulfate. The rate of protein synthesis and formation of 43S initiation complexes in the cell-free system were reduced to 60 and 30% of the control values, respectively, after incubation of hepatocytes in medium deprived of an essential amino acid. Therefore, the cell-free system maintained the defect in initiation induced in the intact cells by amino acid deprivation. The defect in initiation was corrected by addition of either rat liver eukaryotic initiation factor 2 or the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) to the cell-free system. A role for GEF in the defect in initiation was further implicated by experiments that showed that the activity of the factor was decreased in extracts from livers perfused with medium deficient in amino acids. The cell-free system should provide a valuable tool for investigation of mechanisms involved in the regulation of initiation of protein synthesis.

Roles of a 67-kDa polypeptide in reversal of protein synthesis inhibition in heme-deficient reticulocyte lysate

During heme deficiency in reticulocyte lysates, the heme-regulated protein synthesis inhibitor, HRI, phosphorylates the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) and thus inhibits protein synthesis. Two factors, eIF-2 and a reticulocyte-lysate supernatant factor that we term RF, reverse this inhibition. We now report the following. (i) An active eIF-2 preparation contained, in addition to the three subunits (alpha, beta, and gamma), a 67-kDa polypeptide. Pretreatment of eIF-2 with polyclonal antibodies against either isolated alpha subunit or 67-kDa polypeptide almost completely inhibited the reversal activity. Upon further fractionation, three-subunit eIF-2 and the 67-kDa polypeptide were resolved. Neither the three-subunit eIF-2 nor the 67-kDa polypeptide alone was active in protein synthesis inhibition reversal. The activity was, however, restored by combining both the three-subunit eIF-2 and the 67-kDa polypeptide. (ii) Active RF preparations contained eIF-2 alpha (unphosphorylated) and beta subunits and the 67-kDa polypeptide. As with eIF-2, prior treatment of the RF preparation with antibodies to either the alpha subunit or the 67-kDa polypeptide almost completely inhibited the reversal activity. The RF preparation devoid of eIF-2 gamma subunit did not form ternary complex (Met-tRNA(fMet).eIF-2.GTP). The eIF-2 gamma subunit in the free form was isolated, and addition of this isolated gamma subunit to RF promoted significant ternary-complex formation. (iii) Purified HRI efficiently phosphorylated the alpha subunit in the three subunit eIF-2. However, the extent of such phosphorylation was significantly reduced when eIF-2 containing the 67-kDa polypeptide was used. The 67-kDa polypeptide apparently protected eIF-2 alpha subunit from HRI-catalyzed phosphorylation but did not inhibit HRI activity. Based on these results, we suggest that the protein synthesis inhibition reversal activity in both eIF-2 and RF is due to the same components--namely, eIF-2 alpha subunit and the 67-kDa polypeptide. The 67-kDa polypeptide protects eIF-2 alpha subunit from HRI-catalyzed phosphorylation and may also be a necessary component of the functioning eIF-2 molecule.

Protein synthesis in Drosophila melanogaster embryos. Purification and characterization of polypeptide chain-initiation factor 2

Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (elF-2) was purified from the high-salt wash fraction of Drosophila melanogaster embryos. This factor, with a molecular mass of about 90 kDa, consists of two subunits of 47 kDa and 39 kDa on dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The 39-kDa subunit is phosphorylated by the hemin-controlled inhibitor of rabbit reticulocytes in a terminal fragment which can be cleaved by mild treatment with trypsin. Drosophila elF-2 is not a substrate for protein kinases capable of phosphorylating the beta subunit of elF-2 from rabbit reticulocytes. It is also shown that Drosophila elF-2 can form a ternary complex with GTP and Met-tRNAi, which can be efficiently transferred to 40S ribosomes in the presence of AUG and Mg2+. This factor is able to form a binary complex with GDP. Furthermore, purified elF-2 contains about 0.3 mol bound GDP/mol suggesting a high affinity of the factor for this nucleotide. Data supporting the notion that this affinity is increased in the presence of Mg2+, which impairs the GDP/GTP exchange on elF-2, are presented. The properties of Drosophila elF-2 suggest that this factor may be susceptible to regulation by a mechanism like that operating on rabbit reticulocyte elF-2.

Inhibition of protein synthesis by the beta-subunit of spectrin

The 220 kDa beta-subunit of erythroid cell spectrin is a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis in lysates from rabbit reticulocytes. On the basis of weight of protein added to a lysate reaction mixture, it has about half the inhibitory activity of highly purified heme-regulated eIF-2 alpha kinase. Inhibition appears to be at the level of peptide initiation but does not involve a kinase that phosphorylates eIF-2 on its alpha-subunit.

Mechanism of peptide chain initiation in animal cells: a reevaluation

Despite numerous reports from several laboratories, the precise mechanism of peptide chain initiation in animal cells and the roles of different factors involved in this process are not clear. The most widely accepted mechanism for peptide chain initiation is that proposed several years ago by Staehelin, Anderson, Hersey and coworkers. However, results reported from several laboratories differ significantly from the results on which the above mechanism is based. In this article, we have analyzed these different reports and their significance on the proposed mechanism of peptide chain initiation. Also, we have proposed an alternative mechanism based on the results reported from our laboratory.

Functional heterogeneity of GEF-free initiation factor 2 purified from suckling and adult rat brain

The functional behavior of initiation factor 2 was studied in purified preparations from the brains of suckling (4-12-day-old) and adult (60-day-old) rats. Adult eIF2 has lower GDP and GTP affinity than suckling eIF2, even in the presence of a large excess of GTP, whereas suckling eIF2 has a lower capacity to bind GTP. Since these two factors are free of guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), and ribosomal fractions show an age-dependent difference in GEF activity, the observed functional heterogeneity may be due to a different ratio in eIF2 species (eIF2-GDP, eIF2(alpha P)).

Evaluation and significance of kinetic parameters governing function of protein synthesis initiation factors eIF-2 and eIF-2B

Published data dealing with the formation of the ternary complex eIF-2 X GTP X met-tRNAi involved in eukaryotic initiation have been evaluated to calculate the expected inhibition by GDP and the role of eIF-2B in limiting this inhibition. It is concluded that cellular levels of GDP are unlikely seriously to inhibit ternary complex formation if the reaction can proceed to equilibrium. However, derivation of 'on' and 'off' rates for the interaction of GTP and GDP with eIF-2 demonstrates that these are too slow in the absence of eIF-2B to support active protein synthesis, particularly if eIF-2 is released from ribosomes as eIF-2 X GDP. Whilst eIF-2 X GDP and eIF-2 X GTP appear to dissociate equally slowly, it is concluded that GDP binds to eIF-2 100-times faster than GTP. Addition of eIF-2B has the effect of raising k-1 for both GDP and GTP several hundred-fold and k+1 50- and 7000-fold, respectively. Thus, a kinetic block can be relieved even if there is no change in the thermodynamic state. Phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of eIF-2 appears to affect only those parameters influenced by eIF-2B. The reported rescue of inhibited lysates by addition of 1 mM GTP is not by mass action but by some other mechanism. Consideration of the kinetic parameters favours the formation of a ternary complex of eIF-2 X eIF-2B X GDP en route to eIF-2 X GTP as opposed to displacement of GDP from eIF-2 X GDP by eIF-2B.

Protein phosphorylation and translational control in reticulocytes: activation of the heme-controlled translational inhibitor by calcium ions and phospholipid

The synthesis of globin, the major protein synthesized by reticulocytes, requires the presence of heme, the prosthetic group of hemoglobin. The absence of heme leads to the activation of a nucleotide-independent protein kinase that phosphorylates the alpha subunit of the chain initiation factor eIF-2. This modification interferes with the catalytic function of eIF-2 in protein synthesis initiation. Recent progress in our understanding of the molecular mechanism of this inhibition is briefly reviewed. The same phosphorylation is catalyzed by a different enzyme (DAI) which, while constitutive in reticulocytes, is induced by interferon in other cells. This enzyme is activated by low concentrations of double-stranded RNA in conjunction with ATP. The mechanisms of activation of these enzymes are still poorly understood. HCI is believed to form an inactive complex with heme and become active when the heme is removed by hemoglobin formation. The proinhibitor form of HCI (proHCI) is unstable in vitro and, even in the presence of heme, is irreversibly inactivated by SH-binding reagents, alkaline pH, slightly elevated temperatures, or high hydrostatic pressure. In hemin-supplemented reticulocyte lysates proHCI can also be reversibly activated by oxidized glutathione (GSSG) or NADPH depletion as well as by polyunsaturated fatty acids and by Ca2+-phospholipid. The mechanism of activation of HCI by GSSG has not been clarified although it appears to involve oxidation of proHCI SH groups to disulfides. Like activation by GSSG, the activation of HCI by polyunsaturated fatty acids and by Ca2+-phospholipid also appears to be largely due to oxidation of some of the enzyme's SH groups. There thus appear to be two fully independent mechanisms of HCI activation in reticulocyte lysates, one involving heme deficiency, the other involving oxidation of proHCI SH groups. The latter, but not the former, can be prevented or reversed by NADPH generators or dithiols. ProHCI appears to be maintained in the reduced, inactive state by a system involving NADPH, thioredoxin, and thioredoxin reductase.

Protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes: a study of the mechanism of action of the protein factor RF that reverses protein synthesis inhibition in heme-deficient reticulocyte lysates

A eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2)-ancillary protein factor Co-eIF-2 promotes displacement of GDP from eIF-2 X GDP and facilitates ternary complex (Met-tRNAf X eIF-2 X GTP) formation in the presence of Mg2+. Heme-regulated protein synthesis inhibitor, HRI, phosphorylates the alpha-subunit of eIF-2 and thus inhibits ternary complex formation as Co-eIF-2 does not displace GDP from eIF-2 alpha (P) X GDP. RF, a high molecular weight cell supernatant factor, reverses protein synthesis inhibition in heme-deficient reticulocyte lysates and also reverses HRI inhibition of ternary complex formation. RF contains Co-eIF-2 activity. In addition, an active RF preparation contains excess alpha-subunit of eIF-2 in the free and unphosphorylated form and this alpha-subunit of eIF-2 is not phosphorylated by HRI and ATP. In this paper we report (i) an active RF preparation contains excess alpha-subunit of eIF-2 and this alpha-subunit can be phosphorylated by HRI and ATP in the presence of GDP; (ii) RF promotes ternary complex formation by eIF-2 X [3H]GDP with accompanying GDP displacement; (iii) in the presence of HRI and ATP, RF promotes ternary complex formation by eIF-2 X [3H]GDP without accompanying GDP displacement; (iv) in the presence of HRI and ATP, the ternary complex formed using RF is active in Met-tRNAf X 40S initiation complex formation; (v) both the ternary complex and the Met-tRNAf X 40S complex formation in the presence of HRI and ATP are completely inhibited by prior incubation of RF with GDP; (vi) upon further fractionation of an active RF fraction, a preparation can be obtained that contains HRI-sensitive Co-eIF-2 activity. However, this preparation does not efficiently reverse protein synthesis inhibition in heme-deficient reticulocyte lysates and does not contain excess alpha-subunit of eIF-2. Based on these observations, we have suggested (a) RF provides the unphosphorylated alpha-subunit to eIF-2 alpha (P) X GDP and restores eIF-2 activity. This RF activity is inhibited as the alpha-subunit in the RF preparation becomes phosphorylated by HRI and ATP in the presence of GDP; (b) RF contains Co-eIF-2 activity, which has dual functions: (i) stimulation of ternary complex formation by eIF-2 and (ii) GDP displacement from eIF-2 X GDP during ternary complex formation. In the presence of HRI and ATP, Co-eIF-2 but does not displace GDP from eIF-2 alpha(P) X GDP.

Mechanism of translational control by partial phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2

Catalysis of ternary complex formation by the GDP exchange factor (GEF), in the presence of Mg2+, is blocked by phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). We proposed earlier that this phosphorylation interferes with the interaction between eIF-2 and GEF (then termed ESP). If so, inhibition should be related to the extent of phosphorylation. However, work in other laboratories indicated that in fully inhibited, heme-deficient lysates only 20-40% of the eIF-2 is phosphorylated. To understand the nature of the molecular lesion in eIF-2-alpha phosphorylation we used a system of pure components in which the rate of exchange of eIF-2-bound [3H]GDP with unlabeled GDP (via the reaction eIF-2-GDP + GEF in equilibrium eIF-2-GEF + GDP) was measured by using mixtures of eIF-2(alpha P) X [eH]GDP and eIF-2 X [3H]GDP in different proportions at constant concentration of eIF-2 X GEF. If, for example, the ratio of eIF-2 X GEF to total (phosphorylated and unphosphorylated) eIF-2 X [3H]GDP was 0.25, the exchange was found to be maximally inhibited when the proportion of eIF-2(alpha P) X [3H]GDP in hte mixture reached 25%. This suggests that the reaction stops because the available GEF is trapped in an inactive complex with eIF-2(alpha P). In the absence of free GEF, eIF-2 would not be able to recycle and initiation would come to a standstill when the available eIF-2 is tied up as eIF-2 X GDP. The trapping of GEF by eIF-s(alpha P) is strongly supported by the following observation. Incubation of eIF-2 X GEF with excess [3H]GDP leads to the formation of eIF-2 X [3H] GDP and free GEF and, if eIF-2(alpha 32P) X GDP is also present, all of the GEF is converted to eIF-2(alpha 32P) X GEF. This suggests that, whereas the equilibrium of the reaction eIF-2 X GEF + GDP in equilibrium eIF-2 X GDP + GEF favors the formation of free GEF, the equilibrium of the reaction eIF-2(alpha P) X GDP + GEF in equilibrium eIF-2(alpha P) X GEF + GDP is in favor of the association of GEF to eIF-2(alpha P).