A point mutation at the ATP-binding site of the EGF-receptor abolishes signal transduction.

The EGF-receptor (EGF-R) is a transmembrane glycoprotein with intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase (TK) activity. To explore the importance of the receptor TK in the action of EGF, we have used transfected NIH-3T3 cells expressing either the normal human EGF-R or a receptor mutated at Lys721, a key residue in the presumed ATP-binding region. The wild-type receptor responds to EGF by causing inositol phosphate formation, Ca2+ influx, activation of Na+/H+ exchange and DNA synthesis. In contrast, the TK-deficient mutant receptor fails to evoke any of these responses. It is concluded that activation of the receptor TK is a crucial signal that initiates the multiple post-receptor effects of EGF leading to DNA synthesis. Furthermore, the results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation plays a role in the activation of the phosphoinositide signalling system.     

Effects of the mutation glycine-222----aspartic acid on the functions of elongation factor Tu

We have studied the properties of a mutant elongation factor Tu, encoded by tufB (EF-TuBo), in which Gly-222 is replaced by Asp. For its purification from the kirromycin-resistant EF-Tu encoded by tufA (EF-TuAr), a method was developed by exploiting the different affinities to kirromycin of the two factors and the competition between kirromycin and elongation factor Ts (EF-Ts) for binding to EF-Tu. The resulting EF-TuBo kirromycin and EF-TuAr EF-Ts complexes are separated by chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex A-50. For the first time we have succeeded in obtaining a tufB product in homogeneous form. Compared with wild-type EF-Tu, EF-TuBo displays essentially the same affinity for GDP and GTP, with only the dissociation rate of EF-Tu GTP being slightly faster. Protection of amino-acyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) against nonenzymatic deacylation by different EF-Tu species indicates that conformational alterations occur in the ternary complex EF-TuBo GTP aa-tRNA. However, the most dramatic modification is found in the EF-TuBo interaction with the ribosome. Its activity in poly(Phe) synthesis as well as in the GTPase activity associated with the interaction of its ternary complex with the ribosome mRNA complex requires higher Mg2+ concentrations than wild-type EF-Tu (Mg2+ optimum at 10-14 vs. 6 mM), even if EF-TuBo can sustain enzymatic binding of aa-tRNA to ribosomes at low Mg2+. The anomalous behavior of EF-TuBo is reflected in a remarkable increase of the fidelity in poly(Phe) synthesis, especially at high Mg2+ concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Structure and functions of the prokaryotic elongation factor G

Structural and functional data on elongation factor G (EF-G) are reviewed with regard to nucleotide exchange, GTP hydrolysis, mechanism of action of fusidic acid, and functional roles of the EF-G structural domains in translocation. Biochemical data are correlated with structural dynamics of the EF-G molecule on interaction with various ligands. Data on EF-Tu are also considered, as EF-G and EF-Tu share certain structural and functional features.     

Role of yeast elongation factor 3 in the elongation cycle

Investigation of the role of the polypeptide chain elongation factor 3 (EF-3) of yeast indicates that EF-3 participates in the elongation cycle by stimulating the function of EF-1 alpha in binding aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) to the ribosome. In the yeast system, the binding of the ternary complex of EF-1 alpha.GTP.aa-tRNA to the ribosome is stoichiometric to the amount of EF-1 alpha. In the presence of EF-3, EF-1 alpha functions catalytically in the above mentioned reaction. The EF-3 effect is manifest in the presence of ATP, GTP, or ITP. A nonhydrolyzable analog of ATP does not replace ATP in this reaction, indicating a role of ATP hydrolysis in EF-3 function. The stimulatory effect of EF-3 is, in many respects, distinct from that of EF-1 beta. Factor 3 does not stimulate the formation of a binary complex between EF-1 alpha and GTP, nor does it stimulate the exchange of EF-1 alpha-bound GDP with free GTP. The formation of a ternary complex between EF-1 alpha.GTP.aa-tRNA is also not affected by EF-3. It appears that the only reaction of the elongation cycle that is stimulated by EF-3 is EF-1 alpha-dependent binding of aa-tRNA to the ribosome. Purified elongation factor 3, isolated from a temperature-sensitive mutant, failed to stimulate this reaction after exposure to a nonpermissive temperature. A heterologous combination of ribosomal subunits from yeast and wheat germ manifest the requirement for EF-3, dependent upon the source of the "40 S" ribosomal subunit. A combination of 40 S subunits from yeast and "60 S" from wheat germ showed the stimulatory effect of EF-3 in polyphenylalanine synthesis (Chakraburtty, K., and Kamath, A. (1988) Int. J. Biochem. 20, 581-590). However, we failed to demonstrate the effect of EF-3 in binding aa-tRNA to such a heterologous combination of the ribosomal subunits.     

A point mutation within the replicase gene differentially affects coronavirus genome versus minigenome replication

During the construction of the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) full-length cDNA clone, a point mutation at position 637 that was present in the defective minigenome DI-C was maintained as a genetic marker. Sequence analysis of the recovered viruses showed a reversion at this position to the original virus sequence. The effect of point mutations at nucleotide 637 was analyzed by reverse genetics using a TGEV full-length cDNA clone and cDNAs from TGEV-derived minigenomes. The replacement of nucleotide 637 of TGEV genome by a T, as in the DI-C sequence, or an A severely affected virus recovery from the cDNA, yielding mutant viruses with low titers and small plaques compared to those of the wild type. In contrast, T or A at position 637 was required for minigenome rescue in trans by the helper virus. No relationship between these observations and RNA secondary-structure predictions was found, indicating that mutations at nucleotide 637 most likely had an effect at the protein level. Nucleotide 637 occupies the second codon position at amino acid 108 of the pp1a polyprotein. This position is predicted to map in the N-terminal polyprotein papain-like proteinase (PLP-1) cleavage site at the p9/p87 junction. Replacement of G-637 by A, which causes a drastic amino acid change (Gly to Asp) at position 108, affected PLP-1-mediated cleavage in vitro. A correlation was found between predicted cleaving and noncleaving mutations and efficient virus rescue from cDNA and minigenome amplification, respectively.     

A mutation that alters the nucleotide specificity of elongation factor Tu, a GTP regulatory protein

A single amino acid substitution (Asp to Asn) at position 138 of Escherichia coli elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) was introduced in the tufA gene clone by oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis. The mutated tufA gene was then expressed in maxicells. The properties of [35S]methionine-labeled mutant and wild type EF-Tu were compared by in vitro assays. The Asn-138 mutation greatly reduced the protein's affinity for GDP; however, this mutation dramatically increased the protein's affinity for xanthosine 5'-diphosphate. The mutant protein forms a stable complex with Phe-tRNA and xanthosine 5'-triphosphate, which binds to ribosomes, whereas it does not form a complex with Phe-tRNA and GTP (10 microM). These results suggest that in EF-Tu.nucleoside diphosphate complexes, amino acid residue 138 must interact with the substituent on C-2 of the purine ring. Thus, in wild type EF-Tu, Asp-138 would hydrogen bond to the 2-amino group of GDP, and in the mutant EF-Tu, Asn-138 would form an equivalent hydrogen bond with the 2-carbonyl group of xanthosine 5'-diphosphate. Aspartic acid 138 is conserved in the homologous sequences of all GTP regulatory proteins. This mutation would allow one to specifically alter the nucleotide specificity of other GTP regulatory proteins.     

A unique point mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene (FGFR3) defines a new craniosynostosis syndrome

The underlying basis of many forms of syndromic craniosynostosis has been defined on a molecular level. However, many patients with familial or sporadic craniosynostosis do not have the classical findings of those craniosynostosis syndromes. Here we present 61 individuals from 20 unrelated families where coronal synostosis is due to an amino acid substitution (Pro250Arg) that results from a single point mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene on chromosome 4p. In this instance, a new clinical syndrome is being defined on the basis of the molecular finding. In addition to the skull findings, some patients had abnormalities on radiographs of hands and feet, including thimble-like middle phalanges, coned epiphyses, and carpal and tarsal fusions. Brachydactyly was seen in some cases; none had clinically significant syndactyly or deviation of the great toe. Sensorineural hearing loss was present in some, and developmental delay was seen in a minority. While the radiological findings of hands and feet can be very helpful in diagnosing this syndrome, it is not in all cases clearly distinguishable on a clinical basis from other craniosynostosis syndromes. Therefore, this mutation should be tested for in patients with coronal synostosis.     

A comparison of the activities of the products of the two genes for elongation factor Tu

Summary The two species of Elongation Factor Tu coded for by the tufA and tufB genes were synthesized in UV-irradiated E coli infected by transducing phages bearing the separate genes. Both proteins interact similarly with EFTs, GDP, and phe-tRNA. Although the phe-tRNA·EFTu·GMP·PNP complex containing the tufA gene product binds some-what more tightly to ribosomes, both proteins promote the complete process of binding phe tRNA to ribosomes at similar rates.     

Deafness mutation in the MYO3A motor domain impairs actin protrusion elongation mechanism

Class III myosins are actin-based motors proposed to transport cargo to the distal tips of stereocilia in the inner ear hair cells and/or to participate in stereocilia length regulation, which is especially important during development. Mutations in the MYO3A gene are associated with delayed onset deafness. A previous study demonstrated that L697W, a dominant deafness mutation, disrupts MYO3A ATPase and motor properties but does not impair its ability to localize to the tips of actin protrusions. In the current study, we characterized the transient kinetic mechanism of the L697W motor ATPase cycle. Our kinetic analysis demonstrates that the mutation slows the ADP release and ATP hydrolysis steps, which results in a slight reduction in the duty ratio and slows detachment kinetics. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) of filopodia tip localized L697W and WT MYO3A in COS-7 cells revealed that the mutant does not alter turnover or average intensity at the actin protrusion tips. We demonstrate that the mutation slows filopodia extension velocity in COS-7 cells which correlates with its twofold slower in vitro actin gliding velocity. Overall, this work allowed us to propose a model for how the motor properties of MYO3A are crucial for facilitating actin protrusion length regulation.     

Biological and molecular functions of two EAR motifs of Arabidopsis IAA7

Some Arabidopsis thaliana AUXIN/INDOLE ACETIC ACIDs (Aux/IAAs) were predicted to have two ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR–associated Amphiphilic Repression (EAR) motifs which would be involved in repression of auxin responses by interacting with TOPLESS (TPL)/TPL-Related (TPR) corepressors. However, the function of the 2^nd EAR motif and any distinctive functions of two EAR motifs have remained to be characterized. Here, we analyzed the biological and molecular function of two EAR motifs of IAA7 by using the substitution mutant forms of the EAR motifs. The 2^nd EAR motif played a minor (compared with the 1st one) repressive role in auxin-related developmental processes such as root hair growth, primary root growth, cotyledon curling, and plant dwarfism, and also in auxinresponsive gene expression. The yeast two-hybrid assay revealed that while the 1st EAR motif played a dominant role in interacting with all TPL/TPR members, the 2^nd EAR was specifically required to interact with TPR1 and played a minor role in interaction with TPL. The protein pull-down analysis further supported the engagement of the 2^nd EAR motif in interaction with TPL and TPR1. These results indicate that two EAR motifs of IAA7 plays repressive roles in auxin responses by interacting with TPL/TPRs with specificity.     

A bacterial elongation factor G homologue exclusively functions in ribosome recycling in the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi

Translation elongation factor G (EF‐G) in bacteria plays two distinct roles in different phases of the translation system. EF‐G catalyses the translocation of tRNAs on the ribosome in the elongation step, as well as the dissociation of the post‐termination state ribosome into two subunits in the recycling step. In contrast to this conventional view, it has very recently been demonstrated that the dual functions of bacterial EF‐G are distributed over two different EF‐G paralogues in human mitochondria. In the present study, we show that the same division of roles of EF‐G is also found in bacteria. Two EF‐G paralogues are found in the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi, EF‐G1 and EF‐G2. We demonstrate that EF‐G1 is a translocase, while EF‐G2 is an exclusive recycling factor. We further demonstrate that B. burgdorferi EF‐G2 does not require GTP hydrolysis for ribosome disassembly, provided that translation initiation factor 3 (IF‐3) is present in the reaction. These results indicate that two B. burgdorferi EF‐G paralogues are close relatives to mitochondrial EF‐G paralogues rather than the conventional bacterial EF‐G, in both their phylogenetic and biochemical features.     

Distinct functions of elongation factor G in ribosome recycling and translocation

Elongation factor G (EF-G) promotes the translocation step in bacterial protein synthesis and, together with ribosome recycling factor (RRF), the disassembly of the post-termination ribosome. Unlike translocation, ribosome disassembly strictly requires GTP hydrolysis by EF-G. Here we report that ribosome disassembly is strongly inhibited by vanadate, an analog of inorganic phosphate (Pi), indicating that Pi release is required for ribosome disassembly. In contrast, the function of EF-G in single-round translocation is not affected by vanadate, while the turnover reaction is strongly inhibited. We also show that the antibiotic fusidic acid blocks ribosome disassembly by EF-G/RRF at a 1000-fold lower concentration than required for the inhibition of EF-G turnover in vitro and close to the effective inhibitory concentration in vivo, suggesting that the antimicrobial activity of fusidic acid is primarily due to the direct inhibition of ribosome recycling. Our results indicate that conformational coupling between EF-G and the ribosome is principally different in translocation and ribosome disassembly. Pi release is not required for the mechanochemical function of EF-G in translocation, whereas the interactions between RRF and EF-G introduce tight coupling between the conformational change of EF-G induced by Pi release and ribosome disassembly.     

Purification of chloroplast elongation factor Tu and cDNA analysis in tobacco: the existence of two chloroplast elongation factor Tu species

We have purified a chloroplast elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and determined its N-terminal amino acid sequence. Two distinct cDNAs encoding EF-Tu were isolated from a leaf cDNA library of N. sylvestris (the female progenitor of N. tabacum) using an oligonucleotide probe based on the EF-Tu protein sequence. The cDNA sequence and genomic Southern analyses revealed that tobacco chloroplast EF-Tu is encoded by two distinct genes in the nuclear genome of N. sylvestris. We designated the corresponding gene products EF-Tu A and B. The mature polypeptides of EF-Tu A and B are 408 amino acids long and share 95.3% amino acid identity. They show 75–78% amino acid identity with cyanobacterial and chloroplast-encoded EF-Tu species.     

Ser/Thr kinases and polyamines in the regulation of non-canonical functions of elongation factor 1A

The link between eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) and signal transduction pathways through the regulatory mechanism of phosphorylation has never been considered. In this review, we focus on the different kinases that recognize the Ser and Thr residues of the eEF1A1 and eEF1A2 isoforms and regulate their involvement in different cellular processes like cell survival and apoptosis. In this context, polyamines seem to play a role in the regulation of the translation elongation process by modulating the Ser/Thr kinases involved in the phosphorylation of translation elongation factors.     

A germ line mutation in the death domain of DAPK-1 inactivates ERK-induced apoptosis

p53 is activated genetically by a set of kinases that are components of the calcium calmodulin kinase superfamily, including CHK2, AMP kinase, and DAPK-1. In dissecting the mechanism of DAPK-1 control, a novel mutation (N1347S) was identified in the death domain of DAPK-1. The N1347S mutation prevented the death domain module binding stably to ERK in vitro and in vivo. Gel filtration demonstrated that the N1347S mutation disrupted the higher order oligomeric nature of the purified recombinant death domain miniprotein. Accordingly, the N1347S death domain module is defective in vivo in the formation of high molecular weight oligomeric intermediates after cross-linking with ethylene glycol bis(succinimidylsuccinate). Full-length DAPK-1 protein harboring a N1347S mutation in the death domain was also defective in binding to ERK in cells and was defective in formation of an ethylene glycol bis(succinimidylsuccinate)-cross-linked intermediate in vivo. Full-length DAPK-1 encoding the N1347S mutation was attenuated in tumor necrosis factor receptor-induced apoptosis. However, the N1347S mutation strikingly prevented ERK:DAPK-1-dependent apoptosis as defined by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, Annexin V staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling imaging. Significant penetrance of the N1347S allele was identified in normal genomic DNA indicating the mutation is germ line, not tumor derived. The frequency observed in genomic DNA was from 37 to 45% for homozygous wild-type, 41 to 47% for heterozygotes, and 12 to 15% for homozygous mutant. These data highlight a naturally occurring DAPK-1 mutation that alters the oligomeric structure of the death domain, de-stabilizes DAPK-1 binding to ERK, and prevents ERK:DAPK-1-dependent apoptosis.     

Specific mutation of a regulatory site within the ATP-binding region of simian virus 40 large T antigen.

In an attempt to distinguish simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (T) binding to ATP from hydrolysis, specific mutations were made in the ATP-binding site of T according to our model for the site (M. K. Bradley, T. F. Smith, R. H. Lathrop, D. M. Livingston, and T. A. Webster, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:4026-4030, 1987). Two acidic residues predicted to make contact with the magnesium phosphate were changed to alanines. The mutated T gene was completely defective for viral DNA synthesis and for virion production, and it was dominant defective for viral DNA replication. The defective T gene encoded a stable product (2905T) that oncogenically transformed mouse cell lines. 2905T, immunoprecipitated from transformed-cell extracts, bound SV40 origin DNA specifically and, surprisingly, it was active as an ATPase. A recombinant baculovirus was constructed for the production and purification of the mutant protein for detailed biochemical analyses. 2905T had only 10% of the ATPase and helicase of wild-type T. The Km of 2905T for ATP in ATPase assays was the same as the Km of wild-type T. ATP activated the ATPase activity of wild-type T, but not of 2905T. As tested by gel bandshift assay, 2905T bound to SV40 origin DNA and to individual sites I and II with affinities similar to that of the wild type. However, ATP did not modulate the DNA-binding activity of mutant T to site II. Therefore, this mutation in the ATP-binding site in T resulted in defects in the interaction between the protein and ATP that appeared to be responsible for the determination of the active state of T for DNA binding versus ATPase.     

Human and mouse introns are linked to the same processes and functions through each genome's most frequent non-conserved motifs

We identified the most frequent, variable-length DNA sequence motifs in the human and mouse genomes and sub-selected those with multiple recurrences in the intergenic and intronic regions and at least one additional exonic instance in the corresponding genome. We discovered that these motifs have virtually no overlap with intronic sequences that are conserved between human and mouse, and thus are genome-specific. Moreover, we found that these motifs span a substantial fraction of previously uncharacterized human and mouse intronic space. Surprisingly, we found that these genome-specific motifs are over-represented in the introns of genes belonging to the same biological processes and molecular functions in both the human and mouse genomes even though the underlying sequences are not conserved between the two genomes. In fact, the processes and functions that are linked to these genome-specific sequence-motifs are distinct from the processes and functions which are associated with intronic regions that are conserved between human and mouse. The findings show that intronic regions from different genomes are linked to the same processes and functions in the absence of underlying sequence conservation. We highlight the ramifications of this observation with a concrete example that involves the microsatellite instability gene MLH1.     

Role of domains 4 and 5 in elongation factor G functions on the ribosome

Elongation factor G (EF-G) is a large, five domain GTPase that catalyses the translocation of the tRNAs on the bacterial ribosome at the expense of GTP. In the crystal structure of GDP-bound EF-G, domain 1 (G domain) makes direct contacts with domains 2 and 5, whereas domain 4 protrudes from the body of the molecule. Here, we show that the presence of both domains 4 and 5 is essential for tRNA translocation and for the turnover of the factor on the ribosome, but not for rapid single-round GTP hydrolysis by EF-G. Replacement of a highly conserved histidine residue at the tip of domain 4, His583, with lysine or arginine decreases the rate of tRNA translocation at least 100-fold, whereas the binding of the factor to the ribosome, GTP hydrolysis and P(i) release are not affected by the mutations. Various small deletions in the tip region of domain 4 decrease the translocation activity of EF-G even further, but do not block the turnover of the factor. Unlike native EF-G, the mutants of EF-G lacking domains 4/5 do not interact with the alpha-sarcin stem-loop of 23 S rRNA. These mutants are not released from the ribosome after GTP hydrolysis or translocation, indicating that the contact with, or a conformational change of, the alpha-sarcin stem-loop is required for EF-G release from the ribosome.