Enzyme-substrate intermediate at a specific lysine residue is required for deoxyhypusine synthesis. The role of Lys329 in human deoxyhypusine synthase

Crystal structure of archaeal IF5A-DHS complex reveals insights into the hypusination mechanism

The translation factor IF5A is highly conserved in Eukarya and Archaea and undergoes a unique post-translational hypusine modification by the deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) enzyme. DHS transfers the butylamine moiety from spermidine to IF5A using NAD as a cofactor, forming a deoxyhypusine intermediate. IF5A is a key player in protein synthesis, preventing ribosome stalling in proline-rich sequences during translation elongation and facilitating translation elongation and termination. Additionally, human eIF5A participates in various essential cellular processes and contributes to cancer metastasis, with inhibiting hypusination showing anti-proliferative effects. The hypusination pathway of IF5A is therefore an attractive new therapeutic target. We elucidated the 2.0 Å X-ray crystal structure of the archaeal DHS-IF5A complex, revealing hetero-octameric architecture and providing a detailed view of the complex active site including the hypusination loop. This structure, along with biophysical data and molecular dynamics simulations, provides new insights into the catalytic mechanism of the hypusination reaction.

Hypusination-induced DHPS/eIF5A pathway as a new therapeutic strategy for human diseases: A mechanistic review and structural classification of DHPS inhibitors

The discovery of new therapeutic strategies for diseases is essential for drug research. Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHPS) is a critical enzyme that modifies the conversion of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) precursor into physiologically active eIF5A (eIF5A-Hyp). Recent studies have revealed that the hypusine modifying of DHPS on eIF5A has an essential regulatory role in human diseases. The hypusination-induced DHPS/eIF5A pathway has been shown to play an essential role in various cancers, and it could regulate immune-related diseases, glucose metabolism-related diseases, neurological-related diseases, and aging. In addition, DHPS has a more defined substrate and a well-defined structure within the active pocket than eIF5A. More and more researchers are focusing on the prospect of advanced development of DHPS inhibitors. This review summarizes the regulatory mechanisms of the hypusination-induced DHPS/eIF5A pathway in a variety of diseases in addition to the inhibitors related to this pathway; it highlights and analyzes the structural features and mechanisms of action of DHPS inhibitors and expands the prospects of future drug development using DHPS as an anticancer target.

The long road of functional recruitment-The evolution of a gene duplicate to pyrrolizidine alkaloid biosynthesis in the morning glories (Convolvulaceae)

In plants, homospermidine synthase (HSS) is a pathway-specific enzyme initiating the biosynthesis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which function as a chemical defense against herbivores. In PA-producing Convolvulaceae ("morning glories"), HSS originated from deoxyhypusine synthase at least >50 to 75 million years ago via a gene duplication event and subsequent functional diversification. To study the recruitment of this ancient gene duplicate to PA biosynthesis, the presence of putative hss gene copies in 11 Convolvulaceae species was analyzed. Additionally, various plant parts from seven of these species were screened for the presence of PAs. Although all of these species possess a putative hss copy, PAs could only be detected in roots of Ipomoea neei (Spreng.) O'Donell and Distimake quinquefolius (L.) A.R.Simões & Staples in this study. A precursor of PAs was detected in roots of Ipomoea alba L. Thus, despite sharing high sequence identities, the presence of an hss gene copy does not correlate with PA accumulation in particular species of Convolvulaceae. In vitro activity assays of the encoded enzymes revealed a broad spectrum of enzyme activity, further emphasizing a functional diversity of the hss gene copies. A recently identified HSS specific amino acid motif seems to be important for the loss of the ancestral protein function-the activation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). Thus, the motif might be indicative for a change of function but allows not to predict the new function. This emphasizes the challenges in annotating functions for duplicates, even for duplicates from closely related species.

eIF5A-Independent Role of DHPS in p21CIP1 and Cell Fate Regulation

Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHPS) catalyzes the first step of hypusination of the elongation translation factor 5A (eIF5A), and these two proteins have an exclusive enzyme-substrate relationship. Here we demonstrate that DHPS has a role independent of eIF5A hypusination in A375 and SK-MEL-28 human melanoma cells, in which the extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway is deregulated. We found that RNA interference of DHPS induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in association with increased p21CIP1 expression in these cells whereas eIF5A knockdown induces cell death without increasing p21CIP1 expression. Interestingly, p21CIP1 knockdown switched DHPS knockdown-induced growth arrest to cell death in these cells, suggesting a specific relation between DHPS and p21CIP1 in determining cell fate. Surprisingly, ectopic expression of DHPS-K329R mutant that cannot hypusinate eIF5A abrogated DHPS knockdown-induced p21CIP1 expression in these cells, suggesting a non-canonical role of DHPS underlying the contrasting effects of DHPS and eIF5A knockdowns. We also show that DHPS knockdown induces p21CIP1 expression in these cells by increasing CDKN1A transcription through TP53 and SP1 in an ERK1/2-dependent manner. These data suggest that DHPS has a role independent of its ability to hypusinate eIF5A in cells, which appears to be important for regulating p21CIP1 expression and cell fate.

Half Way to Hypusine-Structural Basis for Substrate Recognition by Human Deoxyhypusine Synthase

Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) is a transferase enabling the formation of deoxyhypusine, which is the first, rate-limiting step of a unique post-translational modification: hypusination. DHS catalyses the transfer of a 4-aminobutyl moiety of polyamine spermidine to a specific lysine of eukaryotic translation factor 5A (eIF5A) precursor in a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent manner. This modification occurs exclusively on one protein, eIF5A, and it is essential for cell proliferation. Malfunctions of the hypusination pathway, including those caused by mutations within the DHS encoding gene, are associated with conditions such as cancer or neurodegeneration. Here, we present a series of high-resolution crystal structures of human DHS. Structures were determined as the apoprotein, as well as ligand-bound states at high-resolutions ranging from 1.41 to 1.69 Å. By solving DHS in complex with its natural substrate spermidine (SPD), we identified the mode of substrate recognition. We also observed that other polyamines, namely spermine (SPM) and putrescine, bind DHS in a similar manner as SPD. Moreover, we performed activity assays showing that SPM could to some extent serve as an alternative DHS substrate. In contrast to previous studies, we demonstrate that no conformational changes occur in the DHS structure upon spermidine-binding. By combining mutagenesis and a light-scattering approach, we show that a conserved “ball-and-chain” motif is indispensable to assembling a functional DHS tetramer. Our study substantially advances our knowledge of the substrate recognition mechanism by DHS and may aid the design of pharmacological compounds for potential applications in cancer therapy.

Discovery of Novel Allosteric Inhibitors of Deoxyhypusine Synthase

Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHPS) utilizes spermidine and NAD as cofactors to incorporate a hypusine modification into the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). Hypusine is essential for eIF5A activation, which, in turn, plays a key role in regulating protein translation of selected mRNA that are associated with the synthesis of oncoproteins, thereby enhancing tumor cell proliferation. Therefore, inhibition of DHPS is a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of cancer. To discover novel lead compounds that target DHPS, we conducted synthetic studies with a hit obtained via high-throughput screening. Optimization of the ring structures of the amide compound (2) led to bromobenzothiophene (11g) with potent inhibitory activity against DHPS. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 11g complexed with DHPS revealed a dramatic conformational change in DHPS, which suggests the presence of a novel allosteric site. These findings provide the basis for the development of novel therapy distinct from spermidine mimetic inhibitors.

Trypanosomatid Deoxyhypusine Synthase Activity Is Dependent on Shared Active-Site Complementation between Pseudoenzyme Paralogs

Trypanosoma brucei is a neglected tropical disease endemic to Africa. The polyamine spermidine is essential for post-translational hypusine modification of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), which is catalyzed by deoxyhypusine synthase (TbDHS). In trypanosomatids, deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) activity is dependent on heterotetramer formation between two paralogs, DHSc and DHSp, both with minimal activity on their own due to missing catalytic residues. We determined the X-ray structure of TbDHS showing a single functional shared active site is formed at the DHSc/DHSp heterodimer interface, with deficiencies in one subunit complemented by the other. Each heterodimer contains two NAD⁺ binding sites, one housed in the functional catalytic site and the second bound in a remnant dead site that lacks key catalytic residues. Functional analysis of these sites by site-directed mutagenesis identified long-range contributions to the catalytic site from the dead site. Differences between trypanosomatid and human DHS that could be exploited for drug discovery were identified.

Identification and characterization of a novel deoxyhypusine synthase in Leishmania donovani

Deoxyhypusine synthase, an NAD(+)-dependent enzyme, catalyzes the first step in the post-translational synthesis of an unusual amino acid, hypusine (N(epsilon)-(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)lysine), in the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A precursor protein. Two putative deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) sequences have been identified in the Leishmania donovani genome, which are present on chromosomes 20: DHSL20 (DHS-like gene from chromosome 20) and DHS34 (DHS from chromosome 34). Although both sequences exhibit an overall conservation of key residues, DHSL20 protein lacks a critical lysine residue, and the recombinant protein showed no DHS activity in vitro. However, DHS34 contains the critical lysine residue, and the recombinant DHS34 effectively catalyzed deoxyhypusine synthesis. Furthermore, in vivo labeling confirmed that hypusination of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A occurs in intact Leishmania parasites. Interestingly, the DHS34 is much longer, with 601 amino acids, compared with the human DHS enzyme (369 amino acids) and contains several unique insertions. To study the physiological role of DHS34 in Leishmania, gene deletion mutations were attempted via targeted gene replacement. However, chromosomal null mutants of DHS34 could only be obtained in the presence of a DHS34-containing episome. The present data provide evidence that DHS34 is essential for L. donovani and that structural differences in the human and leishmanial DHS enzyme may be exploited for designing selective inhibitors against the parasite.

Cloning, expression and functional activity of deoxyhypusine synthase from Plasmodium vivax

Background

Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread human malaria parasite. However, genetic information about its pathogenesis is limited at present, due to the lack of a reproducible in vitro cultivation method. Sequencing of the Plasmodium vivax genome suggested the presence of a homolog of deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) from P. falciparum, the key regulatory enzyme in the first committed step of hypusine biosynthesis. DHS is involved in cell proliferation, and thus a valuable drug target for the human malaria parasite P. falciparum. A comparison of the enzymatic properties of the DHS enzymes between the benign and severe Plasmodium species should contribute to our understanding of the differences in pathogenicity and phylogeny of both malaria parasites.

Results

We describe the cloning of a 1368 bp putative deoxyhypusine synthase gene (dhs) sequence from genomic DNA of P. vivax PEST strain Salvador I (Accession number AJ549098) after touchdown PCR. The corresponding protein was expressed and functionally characterized as deoxyhypusine synthase by determination of its specific activity and cross-reactivity to human DHS on a Western blot.

The putative DHS protein from P. vivax displays a FASTA score of 75 relative to DHS from rodent malaria parasite, P. yoelii, and 74 relative to that from the human parasite, P. falciparum strain 3D7. The ORF encoding 456 amino acids was expressed under control of IPTG-inducible T7 promoter, and expressed as a protein of approximately 50 kDa (theoretically 52.7 kDa) in E. coli BL21 DE3 cells. The N-terminal histidine-tagged protein was purified by Nickel-chelate affinity chromatography under denaturing conditions. DHS with a theoretical pI of 6.0 was present in both eluate fractions. The specific enzymatic activity of DHS was determined as 1268 U/mg protein. The inhibitor, N-guanyl-1, 7-diaminoheptane (GC7), suppressed specific activity by 36-fold. Western blot analysis performed with a polyclonal anti-human DHS antibody revealed cross-reactivity to DHS from P. vivax, despite an amino acid identity of 44% between the proteins.

Conclusion

We identify a novel DHS protein in the more benign malaria parasite,P. vivax, on the basis of specific enzymatic activity, cross-reactivity with a polyclonal antibody against human DHS, and amino acid identity with DHS homologs from the rodent malaria parasite, P. yoelii, and human P. falciparum strains.

The post-translational synthesis of a polyamine-derived amino acid, hypusine, in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A)

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is the only cellular protein that contains the unique polyamine-derived amino acid, hypusine [Nepsilon-(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)lysine]. Hypusine is formed in eIF5A by a novel post-translational modification reaction that involves two enzymatic steps. In the first step, deoxyhypusine synthase catalyzes the cleavage of the polyamine spermidine and transfer of its 4-aminobutyl moiety to the epsilon-amino group of one specific lysine residue of the eIF5A precursor to form a deoxyhypusine intermediate. In the second step, deoxyhypusine hydroxylase converts the deoxyhypusine-containing intermediate to the hypusine-containing mature eIF5A. The structure and mechanism of deoxyhypusine synthase have been extensively characterized. Deoxyhypusine hydroxylase is a HEAT-repeat protein with a symmetrical superhelical structure consisting of 8 helical hairpins (HEAT motifs). It is a novel metalloenzyme containing tightly bound iron at the active sites. Four strictly conserved His-Glu pairs were identified as iron coordination sites. The structural fold of deoxyhypusine hydroxylase is entirely different from those of the other known protein hydroxylases such as prolyl 4-hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylases. The eIF5A protein and deoxyhypusine/hypusine modification are essential for eukaryotic cell proliferation. Thus, hypusine synthesis represents the most specific protein modification known to date, and presents a novel target for intervention in mammalian cell proliferation.

Translation initiation factor eIF-5A from Plasmodium falciparum

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF-5A) is a highly conserved and essential protein that contains the unique amino acid hypusine. The first step in the post-translational biosynthesis of hypusine, the transfer of an aminobutyl moiety from the polyamine substrate spermidine to the -amino group of a specific lysine residue in the eIF-5A precursor, is catalyzed by the enzyme deoxyhypusine synthase. A cDNA encoding a protein homologous to eIF-5A was isolated by plaque hybridization from a cDNA library of Plasmodium falciparum. The cloned cDNA contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 161 amino acids, which shares a high sequence identity with other eukaryotic eIF-5A sequences. A phylogenetic tree constructed with eIF-5A from P. falciparum and 16 other eIF-5A sequences of eukaryotic and archaeal origin reveals that plasmodial eIF-5A together with other apicomplexan eIF-5A show a higher degree of homology to plant proteins than to animal and fungal sequences. The plasmodial eIF-5A gene was expressed as a six-histidine tagged fusion protein in Escherichia coli. Radioactive incorporation studies with [1,8-3H] spermidine indicated that this protein can serve as a substrate for human deoxyhypusine synthase. Results of quantitative real-time PCR studies with synchronized erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum revealed no significant induction or downregulation but only some variation in the expression level of plasmodial eIF-5A in ring, trophozoite and schizont stage.

A new crystal structure of deoxyhypusine synthase reveals the configuration of the active enzyme and of an enzyme.NAD.inhibitor ternary complex

Deoxyhypusine synthase catalyzes the first step in the two-step post-translational synthesis of hypusine, which is uniquely present in eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). Deoxyhypusine synthase and eIF5A are conserved throughout the eukaryotic kingdom, and both are essential for cell proliferation and survival. A previous study (Liao, D. I., Wolff, E. C., Park, M. H., and Davies, D. R. (1998) Structure 6, 23-32) of human deoxyhypusine synthase revealed four active sites of the homotetrameric enzyme located within deep tunnels. These Form I crystals were obtained under conditions of acidic pH and high ionic strength and likely contain an inactive enzyme. Each active-site entrance is blocked by a ball-and-chain motif composed of a region of extended structure capped by a two-turn alpha-helix. We report here at 2.2 A a new Form II crystal of the deoxyhypusine synthase:NAD holoenzyme grown at low ionic strength and pH 8.0, near the optimal pH for enzymatic activity. The ball-and-chain motif could not be detected in the electron density, suggesting that it swings freely and thus it no longer obstructs the active-site entrance. The deoxyhypusine synthase competitive inhibitor N(1)-guanyl-1,7-diaminoheptane (GC(7))is observed bound within the putative active site of the enzyme in the new crystal form (Form II) after exposure to the inhibitor. This first structure of a deoxyhypusine synthase.NAD.inhibitor ternary complex under physiological conditions now provides a structural context to discuss the results of previous biochemical investigations of the deoxyhypusine synthase reaction mechanism. This structure also provides a basis for the development of improved inhibitors and antiproliferative agents.

Higher activity of recombinant bovine deoxyhypusine synthase vs. human deoxyhypusine synthase

Mature eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is the only known protein in eukaryotic cells that contains the unusual amino acid hypusine (Nepsilon-(4-amino-2(R)-hydroxybutyl)lysine). The synthesis of hypusine is essential for the function of eIF5A in eukaryotic cell proliferation and survival. Deoxyhypusine synthase is the first of the two enzymes that catalyzes the maturation of eIF5A. We have subcloned the cDNA encoding bovine and human deoxyhypusine synthase into a pET-11a expression vector, separately. T7-tagged bovine and human deoxyhypusine synthase have been overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity using T7 antibody affinity chromatography. Activities of the enzyme from both human and bovine have been measured by their ability to convert the eIF5A precursor protein to the intermediate, deoxyhypusine form of eIF5A. Our results have shown that bovine deoxyhypusine synthase has considerably higher activity than human deoxyhypusine synthase in catalyzing the synthesis of deoxyhypusine.

Molecular cloning of bovine eIF5A and deoxyhypusine synthase cDNA

Deoxyhypusine synthase is the first of the two enzymes that catalyzes the maturation of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). The mature eIF5A is the only known protein in eukaryotic cells that contains the unusual amino acid hypusine (N(epsilon)-(4-amino-2(R)-hydroxybutyl)-lysine). Synthesis of hypusine is essential for the function of eIF5A in eukaryotic cell proliferation and survival. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of bovine eIF5A and bovine deoxyhypusine synthase. The deduced bovine eIF5A protein is 100% identical to human eIF5A-1, and the deduced bovine deoxyhypusine synthase protein showed a 93% identity to the human protein.

Effects of 1,8-diaminooctane on the FIV Rev regulatory system

Proper function of the Rev regulatory system is essential for the replication of lentiviruses, including feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Specifically, Rev affects the overall stability of viral mRNAs that encode necessary structural and enzymatic proteins. In turn, the eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF-5A) is indispensable for Rev function and is the only known protein whose biologically active form requires the unique amino acid, hypusine. Because 1,8-diaminooctane blocks the formation of hypusine by disrupting the cellular enzyme, deoxyhypusine synthase, thereby preventing activation of eIF-5A, we investigated the effects of 1,8-diaminooctane on posttranscriptional regulation. These are the first results to demonstrate that diaminooctane significantly reduced viral replication in a dose-dependent manner, even under conditions of contact inhibition, diminishing the compound's effect on cell proliferation. Similarly, the addition of increased concentrations of diaminooctane caused a reduction in the expression of a Rev-dependent CAT system without affecting a Rev-independent CAT system. At the RNA level, exposure of chronically infected CrFK cells to increasing concentrations of diaminooctane substantially decreased the levels of unspliced and singly spliced viral mRNAs and increased the relative amounts of multiply spliced transcripts in the cytoplasm. The findings of this study are the first demonstration that FIV, similar to HIV-1, requires eIF-5A for efficient Rev function and that small molecule intervention can indirectly target this lentivirus regulatory system.

Structure-function studies of human deoxyhypusine synthase: identification of amino acid residues critical for the binding of spermidine and NAD

Deoxyhypusine synthase catalyses the first step in the biosynthesis of hypusine [N(epsilon)-(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)lysine]. The crystal structure of human deoxyhypusine synthase in complex with NAD revealed four NAD-binding sites per enzyme tetramer, and led to a prediction of the spermidine-binding pocket. We have replaced each of the seven amino acid residues at the predicted spermidine-binding site, and eleven residues that contact NAD, on an individual basis with alanine. Of the amino acid residues at the spermidine site, substitution of Asp-243, Trp-327, His-288, Asp-316 or Glu-323 with alanine caused an almost complete loss of spermidine binding and enzyme activity; only the mutation Tyr-305-->Ala showed partial binding and activity. His-288-->Ala was also deficient in terms of binding NAD. NAD binding was significantly reduced in all of the NAD-site mutant enzymes, except for Glu-137-->Ala, which showed a normal binding of NAD, but was totally lacking in spermidine binding. Of the NAD-site mutant enzymes, Asp-342-->Ala, Asp-313-->Ala and Asp-238-->Ala displayed the lowest binding of NAD. These enzymes and His-288Ala also showed a reduced binding of spermidine, presumably because spermidine binding is dependent on NAD. These findings permit the positive identification of amino acid residues critical for binding of spermidine and NAD, and provide a new insight into the complex molecular interactions involved in the deoxyhypusine synthase reaction.

Deoxyhypusine synthase generates and uses bound NADH in a transient hydride transfer mechanism

Deoxyhypusine is a modified lysine residue. It is formed posttranslationally in the precursor of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) by deoxyhypusine synthase, employing spermidine as a butylamine donor. In the initial step of this reaction, deoxyhypusine synthase catalyzes the production of NADH through dehydrogenation of spermidine. Fluorescence measurements of this reaction revealed a -22-nm blue shift in the emission peak of NADH and a approximately 15-fold increase in peak intensity, characteristics of tightly bound NADH that were not seen by simply mixing NADH and enzyme. The fluorescent properties of the bound NADH can be ascribed to a hydrophobic environment and a rigidly held, open conformation of NADH, features in accord with the known crystal structure of the enzyme. Considerable fluorescence resonance energy transfer from tryptophan 327 in the active site to the dihydronicotinamide ring of NADH was seen. Upon addition of the eIF5A precursor, utilization of the enzyme-bound NADH for reduction of the eIF5A-imine intermediate to deoxyhypusine was reflected by a rapid decrease in the NADH fluorescence, indicating a transient hydride transfer mechanism as an integral part of the reaction. The number of NADH molecules bound approached four/enzyme tetramer; not all of the bound NADH was available for reduction of the eIF5A-imine intermediate.

Identification of lysine350 of yeast deoxyhypusine synthase as the site of enzyme intermediate formation

The posttranslational formation of deoxyhypusine in the precursor of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is catalysed by deoxyhypusine synthase. This NAD-dependent reaction involves transfer of the 4-aminobutyl moiety of spermidine to a single lysine residue in the eIF5A precursor. The present study shows evidence for the formation of a covalent enzyme-substrate intermediate between a specific lysine residue (Lys350) of yeast deoxyhypusine synthase and the 4-aminobutyl moiety from spermidine. Substitution of this lysine residue with Arg or Ala totally prevented the formation of the enzyme intermediate and consequently precluded deoxyhypusine synthesis in the eIF5A precursor, leading to the conclusion that the enzyme intermediate formed at Lys350 is critical for deoxyhypusine synthesis activity. The results provide a rational basis for the inability of the mutated deoxyhypusine synthase gene encoding arginine in place of Lys350 to support growth in yeast (Park et al., 1998). The demonstration of the formation of an enzyme-imine intermediate in yeast deoxyhypusine synthase analogous to that of the human enzyme strongly suggest that the enzyme mechanism is conserved in diverse eukaryotes.

Deoxyhypusine synthase activity is essential for cell viability in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Deoxyhypusine synthase catalyzes the first step in the posttranslational synthesis of an unusual amino acid, hypusine (N epsilon-(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)lysine), in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) precursor protein. The null mutation in the single copy gene, yDHS, encoding deoxyhypusine synthase results in the loss of viability in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Upon depletion of deoxyhypusine synthase, and consequently of eIF-5A, cessation of growth was accompanied by a marked enlargement of cells, suggesting a defect in cell cycle progression or in cell division. Two residues of the yeast enzyme, Lys308 and Lys350, corresponding to Lys287 and Lys329, respectively, known to be critical for the activity of the human enzyme, were targeted for site-directed mutagenesis. The chromosomal ydhs null mutation was complemented by the plasmid-borne yDHS wild-type gene, but not by mutated genes encoding inactive proteins, including that with Lys350-->Arg substitution or with substitutions at both Lys308 and Lys350. The mutated gene ydhs (K308R) encoding a protein with diminished activities (< 1% of wild type) could support growth but only to a very limited extent. These findings provide strong evidence that the hypusine modification is indeed essential for the survival of S. cerevisiae and imply a vital function for eIF-5A in all eukaryotes.