Structure of a human translation termination complex

In contrast to bacteria that have two release factors, RF1 and RF2, eukaryotes only possess one unrelated release factor eRF1, which recognizes all three stop codons of the mRNA and hydrolyses the peptidyl-tRNA bond. While the molecular basis for bacterial termination has been elucidated, high-resolution structures of eukaryotic termination complexes have been lacking. Here we present a 3.8 Å structure of a human translation termination complex with eRF1 decoding a UAA(A) stop codon. The complex was formed using the human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) stalling peptide, which perturbs the peptidyltransferase center (PTC) to silence the hydrolysis activity of eRF1. Moreover, unlike sense codons or bacterial stop codons, the UAA stop codon adopts a U-turn-like conformation within a pocket formed by eRF1 and the ribosome. Inducing the U-turn conformation for stop codon recognition rationalizes how decoding by eRF1 includes monitoring geometry in order to discriminate against sense codons.     

Evidence That Antibiotics Bind to Human Mitochondrial Ribosomal RNA Has Implications for Aminoglycoside Toxicity

Aminoglycosides are a well known antibiotic family used to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals, but which can be toxic. By binding to the decoding site of helix44 of the small subunit RNA of the bacterial ribosome, the aminoglycoside antibiotics inhibit protein synthesis, cause misreading, or obstruct peptidyl-tRNA translocation. Although aminoglycosides bind helix69 of the bacterial large subunit RNA as well, little is known about their interaction with the homologous human helix69. To probe the role this binding event plays in toxicity, changes to thermal stability, base stacking, and conformation upon aminoglycoside binding to the human cytoplasmic helix69 were compared with those of the human mitochondrial and Escherichia coli helix69. Surprisingly, binding of gentamicin and kanamycin A to the chemically synthesized terminal hairpins of the human cytoplasmic, human mitochondrial, and E. coli helix69 revealed similar dissociation constants (1.3–1.7 and 4.0–5.4 μm, respectively). In addition, aminoglycoside binding enhanced conformational stability of the human mitochondrial helix69 by increasing base stacking. Proton one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR suggested significant and specific conformational changes of human mitochondrial and E. coli helix69 upon aminoglycoside binding, as compared with human cytoplasmic helix69. The conformational changes and similar aminoglycoside binding affinities observed for human mitochondrial helix69 and E. coli helix69, as well as the increase in structural stability shown for the former, suggest that this binding event is important to understanding aminoglycoside toxicity.     

Functional sites of interaction between release factor RF1 and the ribosome

Translational release factors decipher stop codons in mRNA and activate hydrolysis of peptidyl-tRNA in the ribosome during translation termination. The mechanisms of these fundamental processes are unknown. Here we have mapped the interaction of bacterial release factor RF1 with the ribosome by directed hydroxyl radical probing. These experiments identified conserved domains of RF1 that interact with the decoding site of the 30S ribosomal subunit and the peptidyl transferase site of the 50S ribosomal subunit. RF1 interacts with a binding pocket formed between the ribosomal subunits that is also the interaction surface of elongation factor EF-G and aminoacyl-tRNA bound to the A site. These results provide a basis for understanding the mechanism of stop codon recognition coupled to hydrolysis of peptidyl-tRNA, mediated by a protein release factor.     

Cleavage of the sarcin–ricin loop of 23S rRNA differentially affects EF-G and EF-Tu binding

Ribotoxins are potent inhibitors of protein biosynthesis and inactivate ribosomes from a variety of organisms. The ribotoxin α-sarcin cleaves the large 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) at the universally conserved sarcin–ricin loop (SRL) leading to complete inactivation of the ribosome and cellular death. The SRL interacts with translation factors that hydrolyze GTP, and it is important for their binding to the ribosome, but its precise role is not yet understood. We studied the effect of α-sarcin on defined steps of translation by the bacterial ribosome. α-Sarcin-treated ribosomes showed no defects in mRNA and tRNA binding, peptide-bond formation and sparsomycin-dependent translocation. Cleavage of SRL slightly affected binding of elongation factor Tu ternary complex (EF-Tu•GTP•tRNA) to the ribosome. In contrast, the activity of elongation factor G (EF-G) was strongly impaired in α-sarcin-treated ribosomes. Importantly, cleavage of SRL inhibited EF-G binding, and consequently GTP hydrolysis and mRNA–tRNA translocation. These results suggest that the SRL is more critical in EF-G than ternary complex binding to the ribosome implicating different requirements in this region of the ribosome during protein elongation.     

Structural basis for hygromycin B inhibition of protein biosynthesis

Aminoglycosides are one of the most widely used and clinically important classes of antibiotics that target the ribosome. Hygromycin B is an atypical aminoglycoside antibiotic with unique structural and functional properties. Here we describe the structure of the intact Escherichia coli 70S ribosome in complex with hygromycin B. The antibiotic binds to the mRNA decoding center in the small (30S) ribosomal subunit of the 70S ribosome and induces a localized conformational change, in contrast to its effects observed in the structure of the isolated 30S ribosomal subunit in complex with the drug. The conformational change in the ribosome caused by hygromycin B binding differs from that induced by other aminoglycosides. Also, in contrast to other aminoglycosides, hygromycin B potently inhibits spontaneous reverse translocation of tRNAs and mRNA on the ribosome in vitro. These structural and biochemical results help to explain the unique mode of translation inhibition by hygromycin B.     

Stereospecificity of aminoglycoside-ribosomal interactions

Aminoglycoside antibiotics bind to the A-site decoding region of bacterial rRNA causing mistranslation and/or premature message termination. Aminoglycoside binding to A-site RNA decoding region constructs is established here to be only weakly stereospecific. Mirror-image prokaryotic A-site decoding region constructs were prepared in the natural D-series and the enantiomeric L-series and tested for binding to a series of aminoglycosides. In general, aminoglycosides bind to the D-series decoding region constructs with 2-3-fold higher affinities than they bind to the enantiomeric L-series. Moreover, L-neamine, the enantiomer of naturally occurring D-neamine, was prepared and shown to bind approximately 2-fold more weakly than D-neamine to the natural series decoding region construct, a result consistent with weakly stereospecific binding. The binding of naturally occurring D-neamine and its synthetic L-enantiomer was further evaluated with respect to binding to prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes. Here, weak stereospecifcity was again observed with L-neamine being the more potent binder by a factor of approximately 2. However, on a functional level, unnatural L-neamine proved to inhibit in vitro translation with significantly lower potency (approximately 5-fold) than D-neamine. In addition, both L- and D-neamine are bacteriocidal toward Gram-(-) bacteria. L-Neamine inhibits the growth of E. coli and P. aeruginosa with 8- and 3-fold higher MIC than D-neamine. Interestingly, L-neamine also inhibits the growth of aminoglycoside-resistant E. coli, which expresses a kinase able to phosphorylate and detoxify aminoglycosides of the D-series. These observations suggest that mirror-image aminoglycosides may avoid certain forms of enzyme-mediated resistance.     

The antibiotic viomycin traps the ribosome in an intermediate state of translocation

During protein synthesis, transfer RNA and messenger RNA undergo coupled translocation through the ribosome's A, P and E sites, a process catalyzed by elongation factor EF-G. Viomycin blocks translocation on bacterial ribosomes and is believed to bind at the subunit interface. Using fluorescent resonance energy transfer and chemical footprinting, we show that viomycin traps the ribosome in an intermediate state of translocation. Changes in FRET efficiency show that viomycin causes relative movement of the two ribosomal subunits indistinguishable from that induced by binding of EF-G with GDPNP. Chemical probing experiments indicate that viomycin induces formation of a hybrid-state translocation intermediate. Thus, viomycin inhibits translation through a unique mechanism, locking ribosomes in the hybrid state; the EF-G-induced 'ratcheted' state observed by cryo-EM is identical to the hybrid state; and, since translation is viomycin sensitive, the hybrid state may be present in vivo.     

Blasticidin S inhibits mammalian translation and enhances production of protein encoded by nonsense mRNA

Deciphering translation is of paramount importance for the understanding of many diseases, and antibiotics played a pivotal role in this endeavour. Blasticidin S (BlaS) targets translation by binding to the peptidyl transferase center of the large ribosomal subunit. Using biochemical, structural and cellular approaches, we show here that BlaS inhibits both translation elongation and termination in Mammalia. Bound to mammalian terminating ribosomes, BlaS distorts the 3′CCA tail of the P-site tRNA to a larger extent than previously reported for bacterial ribosomes, thus delaying both, peptide bond formation and peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis. While BlaS does not inhibit stop codon recognition by the eukaryotic release factor 1 (eRF1), it interferes with eRF1’s accommodation into the peptidyl transferase center and subsequent peptide release. In human cells, BlaS inhibits nonsense-mediated mRNA decay and, at subinhibitory concentrations, modulates translation dynamics at premature termination codons leading to enhanced protein production.     

Conformational changes in switch I of EF‐G drive its directional cycling on and off the ribosome

We have trapped elongation factor G (EF-G) from Escherichia coli in six, functionally defined states, representing intermediates in its unidirectional catalytic cycle, which couples GTP hydrolysis to tRNA–mRNA translocation in the ribosome. By probing EF-G with trypsin in each state, we identified a substantial conformational change involving its conserved switch I (sw1) element, which contacts the GTP substrate. By attaching FeBABE (a hydroxyl radical generating probe) to sw1, we could monitor sw1 movement (by ∼20 Å), relative to the 70S ribosome, during the EF-G cycle. In free EF-G, sw1 is disordered, particularly in GDP-bound and nucleotide-free states. On EF-G•GTP binding to the ribosome, sw1 becomes structured and tucked inside the ribosome, thereby locking GTP onto EF-G. After hydrolysis and translocation, sw1 flips out from the ribosome, greatly accelerating release of GDP and EF-G from the ribosome. Collectively, our results support a central role of sw1 in driving the EF-G cycle during protein synthesis.     

Specific interaction between EF-G and RRF and its implication for GTP-dependent ribosome splitting into subunits

After termination of protein synthesis, the bacterial ribosome is split into its 30S and 50S subunits by the action of ribosome recycling factor (RRF) and elongation factor G (EF-G) in a guanosine 5′-triphosphate (GTP)-hydrolysis-dependent manner. Based on a previous cryo-electron microscopy study of ribosomal complexes, we have proposed that the binding of EF-G to an RRF-containing posttermination ribosome triggers an interdomain rotation of RRF, which destabilizes two strong intersubunit bridges (B2a and B3) and, ultimately, separates the two subunits. Here, we present a 9-Å (Fourier shell correlation cutoff of 0.5) cryo-electron microscopy map of a 50S·EF-G·guanosine 5′-[(βγ)-imido]triphosphate·RRF complex and a quasi-atomic model derived from it, showing the interaction between EF-G and RRF on the 50S subunit in the presence of the noncleavable GTP analogue guanosine 5′-[(βγ)-imido]triphosphate. The detailed information in this model and a comparative analysis of EF-G structures in various nucleotide- and ribosome-bound states show how rotation of the RRF head domain may be triggered by various domains of EF-G. For validation of our structural model, all known mutations in EF-G and RRF that relate to ribosome recycling have been taken into account. More importantly, our results indicate a substantial conformational change in the Switch I region of EF-G, suggesting that a conformational signal transduction mechanism, similar to that employed in transfer RNA translocation on the ribosome by EF-G, translates a large-scale movement of EF-G's domain IV, induced by GTP hydrolysis, into the domain rotation of RRF that eventually splits the ribosome into subunits.     

The uncharacterized bacterial protein YejG has the same architecture as domain III of elongation factor G

InterPro family IPR020489 comprises ~1000 uncharacterized bacterial proteins. Previously we showed that overexpressing the Escherichia coli representative of this family, EcYejG, conferred low-level resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics. In an attempt to shed light on the biochemical function of EcYejG, we have solved its structure using multinuclear solution NMR spectroscopy. The structure most closely resembles that of domain III from elongation factor G (EF-G). EF-G catalyzes ribosomal translocation and mutations in EF-G have also been associated with aminoglycoside resistance. While we were unable to demonstrate a direct interaction between EcYejG and the ribosome, the protein might play a role in translation.     

Initiation factor IF2, thiostrepton and micrococcin prevent the binding of elongation factor G to the Escherichia coli ribosome

The bacterial translational GTPases (initiation factor IF2, elongation factors EF-G and EF-Tu and release factor RF3) are involved in all stages of translation, and evidence indicates that they bind to overlapping sites on the ribosome, whereupon GTP hydrolysis is triggered. We provide evidence for a common ribosomal binding site for EF-G and IF2. IF2 prevents the binding of EF-G to the ribosome, as shown by Western blot analysis and fusidic acid-stabilized EF-G.GDP.ribosome complex formation. Additionally, IF2 inhibits EF-G-dependent GTP hydrolysis on 70 S ribosomes. The antibiotics thiostrepton and micrococcin, which bind to part of the EF-G binding site and interfere with the function of the factor, also affect the function of IF2. While thiostrepton is a strong inhibitor of EF-G-dependent GTP hydrolysis, GTP hydrolysis by IF2 is stimulated by the drug. Micrococcin stimulates GTP hydrolysis by both factors. We show directly that these drugs act by destabilizing the interaction of EF-G with the ribosome, and provide evidence that they have similar effects on IF2.     

Aminoglycoside binding to human and bacterial A-Site rRNA decoding region constructs

The 16S bacterial ribosomal A-site decoding rRNA region is thought to be the pharmacological target for the aminoglycoside antibiotics. The clinical utility of aminoglycosides could possibly depend on the preferential binding of these drugs to the prokaryotic A-site versus the corresponding A-site from eukaryotes. However, quantitative aminoglycoside binding experiments reported here on prokaryotic and eukaryotic A-site RNA constructs show that there is little in the way of differential binding affinities of aminoglycosides for the two targets. The largest difference in affinity is 4-fold in the case of neomycin, with the prokaryotic A-site construct exhibiting the higher binding affinity. Mutational studies revealed that decoding region constructs retaining elements of non-Watson-Crick (WC) base pairing, specifically bound aminoglycosides with affinities in the muM range. These studies are consistent with the idea that aminoglycoside antibiotics can specifically bind to RNA molecules as long as the latter have non-A form structural elements allowing access of aminoglycosides to the narrow major groove.     

Structural basis of l-tryptophan-dependent inhibition of release factor 2 by the TnaC arrest peptide

In Escherichia coli, elevated levels of free l-tryptophan (l-Trp) promote translational arrest of the TnaC peptide by inhibiting its termination. However, the mechanism by which translation-termination by the UGA-specific decoding release factor 2 (RF2) is inhibited at the UGA stop codon of stalled TnaC-ribosome-nascent chain complexes has so far been ambiguous. This study presents cryo-EM structures for ribosomes stalled by TnaC in the absence and presence of RF2 at average resolutions of 2.9 and 3.5 Å, respectively. Stalled TnaC assumes a distinct conformation composed of two small α-helices that act together with residues in the peptide exit tunnel (PET) to coordinate a single L-Trp molecule. In addition, while the peptidyl-transferase center (PTC) is locked in a conformation that allows RF2 to adopt its canonical position in the ribosome, it prevents the conserved and catalytically essential GGQ motif of RF2 from adopting its active conformation in the PTC. This explains how translation of the TnaC peptide effectively allows the ribosome to function as a L-Trp-specific small-molecule sensor that regulates the tnaCAB operon.     

A novel class of bacterial translation factor RF3 mutations suggests specific structural domains for premature peptidyl-tRNA drop-off

The bacterial translation factor RF3 promotes translation termination by recycling the tRNA-mimicking release factors, RF1 and RF2, after mature polypeptide release. RF3 also enhances the premature peptidyl-tRNA drop-off reaction in the presence of RRF and EF-G. Despite the recently resolved X-ray crystal structure of RF3, the molecular details of the bimodal functionality of RF3 remain obscure. In this report, we demonstrate a novel class of RF3 mutations specifically defective in the tRNA drop-off reaction. These mutations suggest differential molecular pathways closely related to the guanine nucleotide modes of RF3.     

Structural basis for the methylation of G1405 in 16S rRNA by aminoglycoside resistance methyltransferase Sgm from an antibiotic producer: a diversity of active sites in m7G methyltransferases

Sgm (Sisomicin-gentamicin methyltransferase) from antibiotic-producing bacterium Micromonospora zionensis is an enzyme that confers resistance to aminoglycosides like gentamicin and sisomicin by specifically methylating G1405 in bacterial 16S rRNA. Sgm belongs to the aminoglycoside resistance methyltransferase (Arm) family of enzymes that have been recently found to spread by horizontal gene transfer among disease-causing bacteria. Structural characterization of Arm enzymes is the key to understand their mechanism of action and to develop inhibitors that would block their activity. Here we report the structure of Sgm in complex with cofactors S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) at 2.0 and 2.1 Å resolution, respectively, and results of mutagenesis and rRNA footprinting, and protein-substrate docking. We propose the mechanism of methylation of G1405 by Sgm and compare it with other m⁷G methyltransferases, revealing a surprising diversity of active sites and binding modes for the same basic reaction of RNA modification. This analysis can serve as a stepping stone towards developing drugs that would specifically block the activity of Arm methyltransferases and thereby re-sensitize pathogenic bacteria to aminoglycoside antibiotics.     

A central interdomain protein joint in elongation factor G regulates antibiotic sensitivity, GTP hydrolysis, and ribosome translocation

The antibiotic fusidic acid potently inhibits bacterial translation (and cellular growth) by lodging between domains I and III of elongation factor G (EF-G) and preventing release of EF-G from the ribosome. We examined the functions of key amino acid residues near the active site of EF-G that interact with fusidic acid and regulate hydrolysis of GTP. Alanine mutants of these residues spontaneously hydrolyzed GTP in solution, bypassing the normal activating role of the ribosome. A conserved phenylalanine in the switch II element of EF-G was important for suppressing GTP hydrolysis in solution and critical for catalyzing translocation of the ribosome along mRNA. These experimental results reveal the multipurpose roles of an interdomain joint in the heart of an essential translation factor that can both promote and inhibit bacterial translation.     

Binding of aminoglycoside antibiotics to helix 69 of 23S rRNA

Aminoglycosides antibiotics negate dissociation and recycling of the bacterial ribosome’s subunits by binding to Helix 69 (H69) of 23S rRNA. The differential binding of various aminoglycosides to the chemically synthesized terminal domains of the Escherichia coli and human H69 has been characterized using spectroscopy, calorimetry and NMR. The unmodified E. coli H69 hairpin exhibited a significantly higher affinity for neomycin B and tobramycin than for paromomycin (K_ds = 0.3 ± 0.1, 0.2 ± 0.2 and 5.4 ± 1.1 µM, respectively). The binding of streptomycin was too weak to assess. In contrast to the E. coli H69, the human 28S rRNA H69 had a considerable decrease in affinity for the antibiotics, an important validation of the bacterial target. The three conserved pseudouridine modifications (Ψ1911, Ψ1915, Ψ1917) occurring in the loop of the E. coli H69 affected the dissociation constant, but not the stoichiometry for the binding of paromomycin (K_d = 2.6 ± 0.1 µM). G1906 and G1921, observed by NMR spectrometry, figured predominantly in the aminoglycoside binding to H69. The higher affinity of the E. coli H69 for neomycin B and tobramycin, as compared to paromomycin and streptomycin, indicates differences in the efficacy of the aminoglycosides.