Influence of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate on some ribosomal functions required for peptide elongation

1. Polyribosomes and ribosomal subunits from rat liver were adsorbed on a cellulosic ion-exchange adsorbent, freeze-dried and extracted with organic solvents. The activity of extracted particles in peptide elongation was tested in the presence of purified peptideelongation factors. 2. Chloroform-methanol mixture (2:1, v/v) extracted 1.87+/-0.15 pmol of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate/pmol of the smaller ribosomal subunit and 0.92+/-0.11 pmol/pmol of the larger subunit. 3. In the presence of transferase I, extracted polyribosomes and 40S subunits bound more phenylalanyl-tRNA than did control non-extracted particles. The same binding as in control mixtures was obtained with extracted particles supplemented with cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate in quantities corresponding to those extracted. 4. The polymerization of phenylalanine was greatly decreased with extracted polyribosomes and subunits and addition of the cholesteryl ester could not fully restore the original activity. 5. Extraction significantly decreased the activity of the P site of peptidyl transferase and normal activity was recovered after the addition of the ester. The A site of peptidyl transferase in extracted polyribosomes showed an increased activity when compared with non-extracted polyribosomes. 6. Cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate apparently affects the function of the ribosomal A site and peptidyl transferase site and probably also that of the guanosine triphosphatase site and P site. The presence of different amounts of the ester in polyribosomes may be one of the mechanisms modulating peptide elongation at the ribosomal level.     

The role of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate in the function of eukaryotic peptide elongation factor 1

The binding of [3H]cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate by a highly purified peptide elongation factor 1 from rabbit reticulocytes is significantly enhanced by GTP and CTP, much less by guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-methylene]-triphosphate and not at all by ATP or UTP. Removal of endogenous cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate present in the molecule of the factor [Hradec, J. et al. (1971) Biochem. J. 123, 959-966] by digestion with immobilized cholesterol esterase resulted in an almost complete loss of GTPase activity and this could be restored to nearly normal values by the addition of the ester. The same holds true for the GTP-dependent autophosphorylation of the protein-synthesis factor. Cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate was bound only by the beta subunit of the factor. Addition of the alpha subunit, which was inactive on its own, stimulated the binding of the ester to the beta subunit in a sigmoid dependence. The binding of the ester was significantly stimulated by aminoacyl-tRNA but this effect was fully abolished by sodium fluoride, indicating a relation of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate to the dephosphorylation of the peptide elongation factor. Treatment of the factor with cholesterol esterase decreased its activity in the poly(U)-dependent binding of phenylalanyl-tRNA to ribosome and this activity was again restored by the addition of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate. The ester thus interacts with the GTP-dependent autophosphorylation of peptide elongation factor 1 and in this way modulates the activity of the factor. A putative scheme is presented explaining the mode of action of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate.     

Effect of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate on the activity of some amino acid-transfer ribonucleic acid ligases from mammalian tissues

1. l-Tyrosine-, l-alanine-, l-tryptophan- and l-threonine-tRNA ligases (where tRNA is transfer RNA) were purified from mammalian tissues and the relative contents of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate were determined in fractions obtained during the isolation. Purified enzymes were extracted with various organic solvents. 2. Cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate contents in purified ligases were up to 210-fold that in the starting material. Different enzymes showed different contents of this cholesteryl ester. 3. Extracted enzymes lost in most cases their ability to catalyse formation of the aminoacylhydroxamate and aminoacyl-tRNA complexes. Enzymes extracted with various solvents showed a variable decreased activity. 4. The original activity could be restored to 70-100% by the addition of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate. Cholesteryl palmitate, cholesteryl margarate and cholesteryl stearate were inactive in this respect. 5. Incubation mixtures of extracted enzymes with cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate added showed an initial delay in the time-course of both reactions assayed. 6. It is concluded that the effect of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate on the activity of amino acid-tRNA ligases seems to be specific and that this compound may play some role in the function of these enzymes.     

Intermediate reactions in the binding of aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid to rat liver ribosomes. The role of guanosine triphosphate

1. Transferase I from rat liver binds relatively low quantities of GTP when incubated with this nucleotide in the absence of aminoacyl-tRNA. 2. Transferase I reacts with both aminoacyl-tRNA and GTP to form a relatively stable complex that is retained on cellulose nitrate filters. The ternary complex transferase I-aminoacyl-tRNA-GTP is also formed when the transferase I-aminoacyl-tRNA complex is incubated with GTP or during the incubation of the transferase I-GTP complex with aminoacyl-tRNA. Synthesis of this complex does not require the presence of Mg(2+). 3. In the presence of Mg(2+) the ternary complex becomes readily bound to ribosomes without requirements for any other cofactors. 4. An extensive cleavage of GTP takes place when aminoacyl-tRNA becomes bound to ribosomes. 5. The low interdependence of reactions leading to the formation of transferase I complexes with aminoacyl-tRNA and GTP indicates that the mechanisms of the binding reaction in mammalian systems may be different from those in bacterial cells.     

Intermediate reactions in the binding of aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid to rat liver ribosomes. Formation and properties of an aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid–transferase I complex

1. Transferase I of rat liver binds aminoacyl-tRNA to form a relatively stable complex, which is retained on cellulose nitrate filters. This reaction proceeds at both 0 degrees C and 37 degrees C and is inhibited by GTP. The resulting product is stabilized by GTP and Mg(2+). 2. Only very low quantities of deacylated tRNA are bound by transferase I. 3. Methods are described for the preparative isolation of the transferase I-aminoacyl-tRNA complex from incubation mixtures by using ion-exchange procedures. 4. The transferase I-aminoacyl-tRNA complex becomes readily bound to ribosomes. The presence of Mg(2+) is essential for the binding. GTP stimulates this reaction but is not absolutely required. 5. It is concluded that the formation of the transferase I-aminoacyl-tRNA complex may be the primary reaction in the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to mammalian ribosomes and that, unlike in bacterial systems, GTP is not absolutely required for this step.     

The role of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate in peptide elongation reactions

1. Peptide-elongation factors were purified from rat liver and human tonsils and the contents of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate were determined in fractions obtained during enzyme purification. The relative contents of this compound in purified enzyme preparations was several times higher than that in the crude starting material. Elongation factors from human tonsils contained a significantly larger quantity of the cholesteryl ester than enzyme from rat liver. 2. Transfer enzymes extracted with various organic solvents showed variable decreased activities in both binding and peptidization assay. The decrease of enzymic activity was proportional to the amount of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate extracted from a given enzymic preparation. In systems containing both extracted elongation factors the polyphenylalanine synthesis was limited by the residual activity of the less active transfer factor. 3. The original enzymic activity of extracted transferases was fully recovered by the addition of pure cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate in quantities corresponding to those extracted. 4. Increase of the relative contents of this cholesteryl ester during enzyme purification, decrease of the enzymic activity after the extraction and its recovery by the addition of this compound indicates that the presence of this ester in elongation factors is essential for the normal function of these enzymes.     

Protein synthesis in the liver of rats injected with cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate

1. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate and killed after various intervals of time up to 3 days; ribosomes and cell sap were isolated from their liver tissue. These fractions were tested for their ability to participate in protein synthesis. 2. Protein synthesis in complete systems containing ribosomes, cell sap and all necessary cofactors was significantly enhanced at 12 and 72h after the injection and significantly inhibited at 24h. At early times after injection isolated ribosomes had a slightly enhanced ability to bind nRNA. Peptide-elongation processes (i.e. binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosomes, peptidyl transfer and polyphenylalanine synthesis) showed significant stimulation or inhibition depending on the time after injection of the ester. 3. A correlation was found between the ability of cell sap to stimulate polyphenylalanine synthesis and the relative cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate content in the postmicrosomal supernatant at different time-intervals after administration of the ester. No significant changes were found in its content in the whole liver tissue. 4. Since the injected ester has previously been shown to accumulate in some enzymic fractions, the changes in its relative content may represent a regulatory mechanism modulating the rate of protein synthesis.     

Myocardial aminoacyl-transfer-ribonucleic acid synthetase and aminoacyl-transferring enzyme activity

The properties of cytoplasmic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and aminoacyl-transferring enzymes in the myocardium were examined and methods for the assay of the activity of these enzyme systems were developed. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity was measured from the rate of incorporation of ¹⁴C-labelled amino acid into aminoacyl-tRNA. Transferase activity was measured from the rate of incorporation of amino[¹⁴C]acyl-tRNA into protein in the presence of a standard preparation of hepatic ribosomes. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity is labile once the heart has been homogenized, whereas transferase activity is stable. The source of energy for synthetase activity is ATP; that for transferase is GTP. Transferase activity was inhibited by puromycin and stimulated by dithiothreitol, whereas synthetase activity was unaffected.     

Determination of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate in blood serum by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple reversed-phase HPLC method has been developed for the determination of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate (CMH) in the blood serum. Lipids are extracted from 0.1 ml of blood serum and after centrifugation, the extract is chromatographed and individual cholesteryl esters, including CMH are separated and eluted with an acetonitrile—2-propanol mixture. The quantification of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate is precise and highly reproducible and the analysis may be completed within 35 min. The level of CMH in the blood of cancer patients appears to be a useful marker of malignant tumors.     

The inhibition of elongation factor 1 activity by heparin

The effect of the mucopolysaccharide heparin on elongation factor 1 (EF-1) from embryos of the brine shrimp Artemia salina was investigated. Heparin was found to be a potent inhibitor of the purified enzyme in binding aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosomes and had a comparable effect on polyuridylic acid dependent polyphenylanine synthesis. However, no effect on the binding of GTP to EF-1 or the ability of the factor to form a ternary complex with GTP and aminoacyl-tRNA was observed, suggesting that heparin interferes with the ribosome-attachment site on the ternary complex. In addition EF-1 bound to heparin-Sepharose gels and such gels could be used to partially purify the factor from post-ribosomal supernatant fractions.     

Cholesteryl esters are bound by a peptide-initiation and a peptide-elongation factor.

Significantly higher quantities of cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate than of cholesteryl laurate and cholesteryl palmitate are bound by a homogeneous peptide-initiation factor and purified peptide-elongation factor 1. Cholesteryl 14-methylhexadecanoate may function as a specific allosteric modifier changing the conformation of protein synthesis factors and thus modulating the activity of their binding sites.     

Inhibition of protein synthesis in vitro by crotins and ricin. Effect on the steps of peptide chain elongation.

The effects of crotin I and crotin II on the partial reactions of polypeptide chain elongation were investigated and compared with the known effects of ricin. Crotin II was a more powerful inhibitor than crotin I, but no qualitative differences between the two crotins were found. Rat liver ribosomes, preincubated with crotins and washed through sucrose gradients, remained inactive in protein synthesis. Among the individual steps of elongation, the peptidyltransferase reaction was unaffected by crotins, but some of the reactions that involve the interaction of elongation factors 1 and 2 with ribosomes were modified. A strong inhibition of the binding of elongation factor 2 to ribosomes and a stimulation of the elongation factor2-dependent GTP hydrolysis were observed; this indicates the formation of a very unstable elongation factor 2--GDP--ribosome complex, which, however, allows a single round of translocation to take place in the presence ofelongation factor 2 and added GTP. The elongation factor 1-dependent GTP hydrolysis was inhibited by crotins, whereas the enzymic binding of aminoacyl-tRNA, to both rat liver and Artemia salina ribosomes, was scarcely affected. In a protein-synthesizing system the inhibition by crotins and by ricin leads to a block of the nascent peptides on the ribosomal aminoacyl-tRNA site, an effect consistent with inhibition at the level of translocation. The mechanism of action of crotins appears to be very similar to that of ricin.     

Chicken liver ribosomes: Characterization of cross-reaction and inhibition of some functions by antibodies prepared against Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins L7 and L12

Antibodies prepared in rabbits against Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins L7/L12 are reported to be immunologically cross-reactive with some ribosomal proteins on the 60 S subunit of eukaryote ribosomes (Wool & Stöffler, 1974; Stöffler et al., 1974). We have confirmed these reports and extended this finding to a detailed study of the functional properties of eukaryote ribosomes which are affected by these cross-reacting antibodies. We report here the partial reactions in protein synthesis that are inhibited by the anti-L7/L12 IgG (immunoglobulin G) preparations using a chicken liver system. The following reactions were inhibited: EF-1 (elongation factor 1) dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosomes and GTP hydrolysis; EF-2 dependent binding of nucleotide to ribosomes and GTP hydrolysis; binding of [¹⁴C]ADP-ribosyl · EF-2 to ribosomes. This last reaction is more sensitive to the antibody inhibition than the corresponding nucleotide binding reaction. We show that the inhibitions were not simply non-specific precipitation of ribosomes by IgG, in that monovalent Fabs were also inhibitory, and peptidyl transferase activity was not inhibited. The functions inhibited with the IgG preparations in the chicken liver system are analogous to those inhibited in the homologous E. coli system. Thus the cross-reacting protein is functionally as well as immunologically conserved.     

The excess GTP hydrolyzed during mistranslation is expended at the stage of EF-Tu-promoted binding of non-cognate aminoacyl-tRNA

The system of translation of Sepharose-bound poly(U) in which all ribosomes are active in peptide elongation was used to determine the stoichiometry of GTP hydrolysis at the stage of EF-Tu-promoted aminoacyl-tRNA binding. The ratio of GTP hydrolyzed at this stage per peptide bond was assayed during codon-specific elongation (polyphenylalanine synthesis) and misreading (polyleucine synthesis). It was demonstrated directly that the excess GTP hydrolyzed during misreading [(1984) FEBS Letters 178, 283-287] is expended at the stage of Ef-Tu-promoted binding of non-cognate aminoacyl-tRNA.     

The role of aminoacyl-tRNA binding site on the factor EF-T in uncoupled GTPase reaction

The properties of the N-tosyl-L-phenylalanyl chloromethane treated EF-T factor were studied in a ribosomal system in which splitting of GTP occurs. The action of N-tosyl-L-phenylalanyl chloromethane inhibits the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to the EF-T factor. The binding and exchange of guanosine phosphates continued to be preserved. The inhibited factor is inactive in the GTPase reaction which depends on the participation of ribosomes and aminoacyl-tRNA. The uncoupled GTPase reaction (which is not dependent on the presence of aminoacyl-tRNA) is also sensitive to the effect of the inhibitor. The inhibition of the uncoupled GTPase is incomplete. These findings are attributed to the involvement of the aminoacyl-tRNA binding site of the EF-T factor in the uncoupled GTPase reaction.     

Regulation of the activity of eukaryotic peptide elongation factor 1 by autocatalytic phosphorylation

Highly purified peptide elongation factor 1 from rabbit reticulocytes liberates the terminal phosphate from [gamma-32P]GTP and incorporates it into its own protein. Approximately one phosphate residue becomes bound by one molecule of the factor. Only the eEF-1 alpha subunit of the factor (Mr 53 000) becomes phosphorylated as revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate followed by autoradiography and by the incubation of [gamma-32P]GTP with individual subunits of the elongation factor separated by chromatofocusing in the presence of 5 M urea. The phosphorylation also takes place, though to a lesser extent, if the factor is incubated with Na2H32PO4, probably due to the presence of endogenous GTP bound in the molecule of the factor. The content of endogenous GTP in various factor preparations was 0.21-0.43 mol/mol factor. Phosphorylation of the peptide elongation factor is ribosome-independent, acid-labile and apparently autocatalytic since no other proteins are required for this reaction. Preincubation of the factor with GTP or with inorganic phosphate results in the phosphorylation of the factor and is followed by an enhanced binding of phenylalanyl-tRNA to 80S ribosomes in the presence of poly(U). This is accompanied by a dephosphorylation of the factor protein and thus the reversible autophosphorylation of the factor apparently activates its binding site for aminoacyl-tRNA. This is supported by the observation that sodium fluoride, which inhibits the dephosphorylation of the factor, blocks the factor-catalyzed binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosomes. The incorporation of phosphate into factor protein also inhibits the formation of an eEF-1 X GDP complex, which is inactive in protein synthesis. Thus GDP liberated by the GTPase activity of the factor cannot affect its binding site for aminoacyl-tRNA. This may be the other reason for the enhanced activity of the phosphorylated factor. The autocatalytic GTP-dependent phosphorylation of the peptide elongation factor 1 apparently modifies its function and may thus play a regulatory role in protein synthesis.     

Effect of elongation factor 2 and of adenosine diphosphate-ribosylated elongation factor 2 on translocation.

1. The effect of elongation factor 2 (EF 2) and of adenosine diphosphate-ribosylated elongation factor 2 (ADP-ribosyl-EF 2) on the shift of endogenous peptidyl-tRNA from the A to the P site of rat liver ribosomes (measured by the peptidyl-puromycin reaction) and on the release of deacylated tRNA (measured by aminoacylation) was investigated. 2. Limiting amounts of EF2, pre-bound or added to ribosomes, catalyse the shift of peptidyl-tRNA in the presence of GPT; when the enzyme is added in substrate amounts GMP-P(CH2)P [guanosine (beta, gamma-methylene)triphosphate] can partially replace GTP. ADP-ribosyl-EF 2 has no effect on the shift of peptidyl-tRNA when present in catalytic amounts, but becomes almost as effective as EF 2 when added in substrate amounts together with GTP; GMP-P(CH2)P cannot replace GTP. 3. The release of deacylated tRNA is induced only by substrate amounts of added EF 2 and also occurs in the absence of guanine nucleotides. In this reaction ADP-ribosyl-EF 2 is only 25% as effective as EF 2 in the absence of added nucleotide, but becomes 60-80% as effective in the presence of GTP or GMP-P(CH2)P. 4.The results obtained on protein-synthesizing systems are consistent with the hypothesis that ADP-ribosyl-EF 2 can operate a single round of translocation followed by binding of aminoacyl-tRNA and peptide-bond formation. 5. From the data obtained with the native enzyme it is concluded that the two moments of translocation require different conditions of interaction of EF 2 with ribosomes; it is suggested that the shift of peptidyl-tRNA is catalysed by EF 2 pre-bound to ribosomes, and that the release of tRNA is induced by a second molecule of interacting EF 2. The hydrolysis of GTP would be required for the release of pre-bound EF 2 from ribosomes. 5. The inhibition of the utilization of limiting amounts of EF 2 on ADP-ribosylation is very likely the consequence of a concomitant decrease in the rate of association and dissociation of the enzyme from ribosomes.     

Reduced turnover of the elongation factor EF-1 X ribosome complex after treatment with the protein synthesis inhibitor II from barley seeds

The effect of the protein synthesis inhibitor II from barley seeds (Hordeum sp.) on protein synthesis was studied in rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Inhibitor treatment of the lysates resulted in a rapid decrease in amino acid incorporation and an accumulation of heavy polysomes, indicating an effect of the inhibitor on polypeptide chain elongation. The protein synthesis inhibition was due to a catalytic inactivation of the large ribosomal subunit with no effect on the small subparticle. The inhibitor-treated ribosomes were fully active in participating in the EF-1-dependent binding of [14C]phenylalanyl-tRNA to poly(U)-programmed ribosomes in the presence of GTP and the binding of radioactively labelled EF-2 in the presence of GuoPP[CH2]P. Furthermore, the ribosomes were still able to catalyse peptide-bond formation. However, the EF-1- and ribosome-dependent hydrolysis of GTP was reduced by more than 40% in the presence of inhibitor-treated ribosomes, while the EF-2- and ribosome-dependent GTPase remained unaffected. This suggests that the active domains involved in the two different GTPases are non-identical. Treatment of reticulocyte lysates with the barley inhibitor resulted in a marked shift of the steady-state distribution of the ribosomal phases during the elongation cycle as determined by the ribosomal content of elongation factors. Thus, the content of EF-1 increased from 0.38 mol/mol ribosome to 0.71 mol/mol ribosome, whereas the EF-2 content dropped from 0.20 mol/mol ribosome at steady state to 0.09 mol/mol ribosome after inhibitor treatment. The data suggest that the inhibitor reduces the turnover of ribosome-bound ternary EF-1 X GTP X aminoacyl-tRNA complexes during proof-reading and binding of the cognate aminoacyl-tRNA by inhibiting the EF-1-dependent GTPase.     

Nuclease digestion patterns as a criterion for nucleosome orientation in the higher order structure of chromatin

70 S ribosomes were programmed with initiator tRNA and messenger oligonucleotides AUG(U)n and AUG(C)n, where n = 1, 2 or 3. The binding of the ternary complexes [Phe-tRNA X EF-Tu X GTP] and [Pro-tRNA X EF-Tu X GTP] to the programmed ribosomes was studied. If codon-anticodon interaction is restricted to only one basepair, the ternary complex leaves the ribosome before GTP hydrolysis. Two basepairs allow hydrolysis of GTP, but the aminoacyl-tRNA dissociates and is recycled, resulting in wastage of GTP. Three basepairs result in apparently stable binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to the ribosome. The antibiotic sparsomycin weakens the binding by an amount roughly equivalent to one messenger base, while viomycin has the reverse effect.     

Cloning and expression of Bombyx mori silk gland elongation factor 1gamma in Escherichia coli

Elongation factor 1 (EF-1) from the silk gland of Bombyx mori consists of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-subunits. EF-1alpha GTP catalyzes the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosomes concomitant with the hydrolysis of GTP. EF-1betagammadelta catalyzes the exchange of EF-1alpha-bound GDP for exogenous GTP and stimulates the EF-1alpha-dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosomes. EF-1gamma cDNA, which contains an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 423 amino acid residues, was amplified and cloned by PCR from a silk gland cDNA library. The calculated molecular mass and predicted pI of the product were 48,388 Da and 5.84, respectively. The silk gland EF-1gamma shares 67.3% amino acid identity with Artemia salina EF-lgamma. The N-terminal domain (amino acid residues 1-211) of silk gland EF-lgamma is 29.3% identical to maize glutathione S-transferase. We demonstrated that silk gland EF-lgamma bound to glutathione Sepharose, suggesting that the N-terminal domain of EF-1gamma may have the capacity to bind to glutathione.