Characterization of the p33 subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor-3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor-3 (eIF3) is a large multisubunit complex that binds to the 40 S ribosomal subunit and promotes the binding of methionyl-tRNAi and mRNA. The molecular mechanism by which eIF3 exerts these functions is incompletely understood. We report here the cloning and characterization of TIF35, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene encoding the p33 subunit of eIF3. p33 is an essential protein of 30,501 Da that is required in vivo for initiation of protein synthesis. Glucose repression of TIF35 expressed from a GAL1 promoter results in depletion of both the p33 and p39 subunits. Expression of histidine-tagged p33 in yeast in combination with Ni2+ affinity chromatography allows the isolation of a complex containing the p135, p110, p90, p39, and p33 subunits of eIF3. The p33 subunit binds both mRNA and rRNA fragments due to an RNA recognition motif near its C terminus. Deletion of the C-terminal 71 amino acid residues causes loss of RNA binding, but expression of the truncated form as the sole source of p33 nevertheless supports the slow growth of yeast. These results indicate that the p33 subunit of eIF3 plays an important role in the initiation phase of protein synthesis and that its RNA-binding domain is required for optimal activity.     

The Arabidopsis eukaryotic initiation factor (iso)4E is dispensable for plant growth but required for susceptibility to potyviruses

An Arabidopsis thaliana line bearing a transposon insertion in the gene coding for the isozyme form of the plant-specific cap-binding protein, eukaryotic initiation factor (iso) 4E (eIF (iso) 4E), has been isolated. This mutant line completely lacks both eIF(iso)4E mRNA and protein, but was found to have a phenotype and fertility indistinguishable from wild-type plants under standard laboratory conditions. In contrast, the amount of the related eIF4E protein was found to increase in seedling extracts. Furthermore, polysome analysis shows that the mRNA encoding eIF4E was being translated at increased levels. Given the known interaction between cap-binding proteins and potyviral genome-linked proteins (VPg), this plant line was challenged with two potyviruses, Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) and Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) and was found resistant to both, but not to the Nepovirus, Tomato black ring virus (TBRV) and the Cucumovirus, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Together with previous data showing that the VPg-eIF4E interaction is necessary for virus infectivity and upregulates genome amplification, this shows that the eIF4E proteins are specifically recruited for the replication cycle of potyviruses.     

Malignant transformation by the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit p48 (eIF3e)

Several components of translation, e.g. eIF4E and PKR, are implicated in cancer. The e-subunit (p48) of mammalian initiation factor 3 is encoded by the Int6 gene, a common site for integration of the mouse mammary tumor virus genome, leading to the production of a truncated eukaryotic initiation factor-3e (eIF3e). Stable expression of a truncated eIF3e in NIH 3T3 cells causes malignant transformation by four criteria: foci formation; anchorage independent growth; accelerated growth; and lack of contact inhibition. Stable expression of full-length eIF3e does not cause transformation. The truncated eIF3e also inhibits the onset of apoptosis caused by serum starvation.     

Alpha subunit of eukaryotic translational initiation factor-2 is a heat-shock protein

The use of ultra high resolution giant two-dimensional gel electrophoresis has expanded the number of recognizable heat-shock proteins to 68 inductions in rat thymic lymphocytes, many of which are among the less abundant cellular proteins (Maytin, E. V., Colbert, R. A., and Young, D. A. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 2384-2392). Previous studies also show that cells receiving a prior heat shock recover more rapidly from the inhibition of protein synthesis induced by a second heat shock. In this report we use a monoclonal antibody to identify the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2 alpha) as a heat-shock protein. Its relative rate of synthesis increases approximately 40% in the 2nd h and 5-fold in the 4th h of a continuous heat shock and is stimulated more dramatically, 15-fold, in the 3rd h of recovery from a 1-h heat shock. These results suggest that the induction of eIF-2 alpha in the heat-shock response may be important for restoring the cell's ability to initiate protein synthesis. In addition to identifying a function for one of the heat-shock proteins, our findings draw attention to the likelihood that other low-abundance heat-shock proteins may play critical roles in the heat-shock response.     

Wheat germ initiation factors 4F and (iso)4F interact differently with oligoribonucleotide analogues of rabbit alpha-globin mRNA

The binding of capped oligoribonucleotide analogues of the 5' terminus of rabbit alpha-globin mRNA to wheat germ protein synthesis initiation factors eIF-4F and eIF-(iso)4F was measured by direct fluorescence techniques. An analysis of the equilibrium association constants (Keq) indicates that both eIF-4F and eIF-(iso)4F recognize primarily the m7G cap structure but differ in the recognition of other structural features. eIF-4F is sensitive to the position and sequence of hairpin structures within the oligoribonucleotide, while eIF-(iso)4F shows a preference for linear sequences. These differences suggest that wheat germ eIF-4F and eIF-(iso)4F may have discriminatory activity for mRNA recognition.     

A novel interaction of Cap-binding protein complexes eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4F and eIF(iso)4F with a region in the 3'-untranslated region of satellite tobacco necrosis virus

Satellite tobacco necrosis virus (STNV) RNA is naturally uncapped at its 5' end and lacks polyadenylation at its 3' end. Despite lacking these two hallmarks of eukaryotic mRNAs, STNV-1 RNA is translated very efficiently. A approximately 130-nucleotide translational enhancer (TED), located 3' to the termination codon, is necessary for efficient cap-independent translation of STNV-1 RNA. The STNV-1 TED RNA fragment binds to the eukaryotic cap-binding complexes, initiation factor (eIF) 4F and eIF(iso)4F, as measured by nitrocellulose binding and fluorescence titration. STNV-1 TED is a potent inhibitor of in vitro translation when added in trans. This inhibition is reversed by the addition of eIF4F or eIF(iso)4F, and the subunits of eIF4F and eIF(iso)4F cross-link to STNV-1 TED, providing additional evidence that these factors interact directly with STNV-1 TED. Deletion mutagenesis of the STNV-1 TED indicates that a minimal region of approximately 100 nucleotides is necessary to promote cap-independent translation primarily through interaction with the cap binding subunits (eIF4E or eIF(iso)4E) of eIF4F or eIF(iso)4F.     

Plant cap-binding complexes eukaryotic initiation factors eIF4F and eIFISO4F: molecular specificity of subunit binding

The initiation of translation in eukaryotes requires a suite of eIFs that include the cap-binding complex, eIF4F. eIF4F is comprised of the subunits eIF4G and eIF4E and often the helicase, eIF4A. The eIF4G subunit serves as an assembly point for other initiation factors, whereas eIF4E binds to the 7-methyl guanosine cap of mRNA. Plants have an isozyme form of eIF4F (eIFiso4F) with comparable subunits, eIFiso4E and eIFiso4G. Plant eIF4A is very loosely associated with the plant cap-binding complexes. The specificity of interaction of the individual subunits of the two complexes was previously unknown. To address this issue, mixed complexes (eIF4E-eIFiso4G or eIFiso4E-eIF4G) were expressed and purified from Escherichia coli for biochemical analysis. The activity of the mixed complexes in in vitro translation assays correlated with the large subunit of the respective correct complex. These results suggest that the eIF4G or eIFiso4G subunits influence translational efficiency more than the cap-binding subunits. The translation assays also showed varying responses of the mRNA templates to eIF4F or eIFiso4F, suggesting that some level of mRNA discrimination is possible. The dissociation constants for the correct complexes have K(D) values in the subnanomolar range, whereas the mixed complexes were found to have K(D) values in the ～10 nm range. Displacement assays showed that the correct binding partner readily displaces the incorrect binding partner in a manner consistent with the difference in K(D) values. These results show molecular specificity for the formation of plant eIF4F and eIFiso4F complexes and suggest a role in mRNA discrimination during initiation of translation.     

A comparison of the binding of methylated cap analogues to wheat germ protein synthesis initiation factors 4F and (iso)4F

The binding of the 5'-terminal cap analogues m7GpppG and m7GTP to wheat germ protein synthesis initiation factors eIF-4F and eIF-(iso)4F as a function of pH, ionic strength, and temperature is described. Equilibrium binding data indicate that eIF-4F and eIF-(iso)4F have different mechanisms for interacting with the 5'-cap structure, but the complexes formed between m7GpppG and wheat germ factor eIF-(iso)4F more closely resemble complexes formed between this cap analogue and either mammalian eIF-4E or eIF-4F. The binding of these initiation factors to the hypermethylated cap analogues m2,7GMP, m2,7GpppG, and m2,2,7GpppG is also investigated. The differences in affinity of eIF-4F and eIF-(iso)4F for the hypermethylated 5'-terminal cap structures suggest that these factors may have discriminatory activity.     

Modification of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F during infection by influenza virus.

Influenza virus infection of cells is accompanied by a striking shutoff of cellular protein synthesis, resulting in the exclusive translation of viral mRNAs. The mechanism for control of cellular protein synthesis by influenza virus is poorly understood, but several translation properties of influenza virus mRNAs which are potentially involved have been described. Influenza virus mRNAs possess the surprising ability to translate in the presence of inhibitory levels of inactive (phosphorylated) eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). In addition, influenza virus mRNAs were shown to be capable of translating in cells during the late phase of adenovirus infection but not in cells infected by poliovirus. Since both adenovirus and poliovirus facilitate virus-specific translation by impairing the activity of initiation factor eIF-4F (cap-binding protein complex) but through different mechanisms, we investigated the translation properties of influenza virus mRNAs in more detail. We show that influenza virus infection is associated with the significant dephosphorylation and inactivation of eIF-4E (cap-binding protein), a component of eIF-4F, and accordingly that influenza virus mRNAs possess a moderate ability to translate by using low levels of eIF-4F. We also confirm the ability of influenza virus mRNAs to translate in the presence of high levels of inactive (phosphorylated) eIF-2 but to a more limited extent than reported previously. We suggest a potential mechanism for the regulation of protein synthesis by influenza virus involving a decreased requirement for large pools of active eIF-4F and eIF-2.     

Repression of cap-dependent translation by 4E-binding protein 1: competition with p220 for binding to eukaryotic initiation factor-4E.

An important aspect of the regulation of gene expression is the modulation of translation rates in response to growth factors, hormones and mitogens. Most of this control is at the level of translation initiation. Recent studies have implicated the MAP kinase pathway in the regulation of translation by insulin and growth factors. MAP kinase phosphorylates a repressor of translation initiation [4E-binding protein (BP) 1] that binds to the mRNA 5' cap binding protein eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)-4E and inhibits cap-dependent translation. Phosphorylation of the repressor decreases its affinity for eIF-4E, and thus relieves translational inhibition. eIF-4E forms a complex with two other polypeptides, eIF-4A and p220, that promote 40S ribosome binding to mRNA. Here, we have studied the mechanism by which 4E-BP1 inhibits translation. We show that 4E-BP1 inhibits 48S pre-initiation complex formation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that 4E-BP1 competes with p220 for binding to eIF-4E. Mutants of 4E-BP1 that are deficient in their binding to eIF-4E do not inhibit the interaction between p220 and eIF-4E, and do not repress translation. Thus, translational control by growth factors, insulin and mitogens is affected by changes in the relative affinities of 4E-BP1 and p220 for eIF-4E.     

Translation initiation factor (iso) 4E interacts with BTF3, the beta subunit of the nascent polypeptide-associated complex

A two-hybrid screen with the translation initiation factor, eIF(iso)4E from Arabidopsis, identified a clone encoding a lipoxygenase type 2 [Freire, M.A., et al., 2000. Plant lipoxygenase 2 is a translation initiation factor-4E-binding protein. Plant Molecular Biology 44, 129-140], and three cDNA clones encoding the homologue of the mammalian BTF3 factor, the beta subunit of the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC). Here we report on the interaction between the translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E and AtBTF3. AtBTF3 protein is able to interact with the wheat initiation factors eIF4E and eIF(iso)4E. AtBTF3 contains a sequence related to the prototypic motif found on most of the 4E-binding proteins, and competes with the translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4G for eIF4(iso)4E binding, in a two hybrid interference assay. These findings provide a molecular link between the translation initiation mechanism and the emergence of the nascent polypeptide chains.     

Dependence of the adenovirus tripartite leader on the p220 subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F during in vitro translation. Effect of p220 cleavage by foot-and-mouth-disease-virus L-protease on in vitro translation.

The adenovirus tripartite leader (TPT) 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) allows translation in poliovirus-infected cells, in which the p220 subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F is degraded. This p220-independent translation was investigated by measuring in vitro translation in a reticulocyte lysate of a reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, coupled to the TPT 5'UTR. The p220 subunit was degraded by translation of a foot-and-mouth-disease L-protease construct. Surprisingly, the TPT 5'UTR was dependent on intact p220, as are other naturally capped mRNA species. Translation of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA was p220 independent, as expected from its ability to support internal, cap-independent initiation. In vitro protein-synthesis experiments with purified initiation factors confirmed the dependence of TPT mRNA translation on eukaryotic initiation factor 4F. The relationship between adenovirus TPT-5'UTR-directed translation and poliovirus-induced host cell shut-off is discussed.     

Interaction of wheat germ protein synthesis initiation factors eIF-3, eIF-(iso)4F, and eIF-4F with mRNA analogues

The interaction of wheat germ eIF-3 with the wheat germ cap-binding proteins eIF-(iso)4F and eIF-4F as a function of pH and ionic strength is described. Direct fluorescence titration experiments are used to measure the equilibrium association constants (Keq) for the binary protein/protein complexes as well as for the interaction of eIF-3 with methylated cap analogues and rabbit alpha-globin mRNA oligonucleotide analogues. The Keq values for ternary eIF-3/eIF-(iso)4F/analogue and eIF-3/eIF-4F/analogue interactions were also measured. The equilibrium binding constants were used to calculate coupling free energies, which provide an estimate of the cooperativity for the interaction of the mRNA analogues, eIF-3, and either eIF-4F or eIF-(iso)4F. These data suggest a mechanism in which the binding of eIF-(iso)4F or eIF-4F to mRNA enhances the subsequent binding of eIF-3 to the message. This may lead to favorable positioning of the complex on the ribosome and thereby enhance translation.     

Modulation of the mitogenic activity of eukaryotic translation initiation factor-4E by protein kinase C

Eukaryotic initiation factor-4E (eIF-4E) binds to the cap structure of eukaryotic mRNAs and is a component of the cap-binding protein complex eIF-4F. eIF-4E is present in cells in limiting concentrations and is phosphorylated both in vivo and in vitro by protein kinase C (PKC). Recently, eIF-4E has been implicated as an intracellular transducer of extracellular growth signals; microinjection of recombinant eIF-4E into quiescent NIH 3T3 cells induced DNA synthesis. In the present report, the mitogenic activity of eIF-4E was examined after coinjection with PKC. Recombinant eIF-4E was phosphorylated by PKC at the same amino acid that is phosphorylated in cultured cells and reticulocytes in response to phorbol ester. At limiting concentrations of eIF-4E, coinjection with PKC induced a fivefold increase in the mitogenic activity of eIF-4E. Injection of PKC alone or coinjection of eIF-4E with cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) or the Raf protein had no effect. These results suggest that the mitogenic activity of eIF-4E is enhanced by PKC-specific phosphorylation and that phosphate addition is a rate-limiting step in eIF-4E activity.     

The p220 component of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F is a substrate for multiple calcium-dependent enzymes

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4F (eIF-4F) is a multisubunit protein that functions in the first step of the binding of capped mRNAs to the small ribosomal subunit. Its largest polypeptide component, p220, is cleaved following poliovirus infection. This is thought to inactivate eIF-4F function, thereby preventing cap-dependent initiation of translation of cellular mRNAs. In this report, we show that p220 in extracts of uninfected HeLa cells is specifically lost in the presence of calcium. The responsible activities have been partially purified and identified as the calcium-dependent, neutral, cysteine proteases calpains I and II. In addition, a third calcium-dependent activity was resolved from the calpains and also results in the loss of p220. This activity has properties similar to a transglutaminase and copurifies with tissue transglutaminase through several chromatographic steps. None of these calcium-dependent activities appears to mediate p220 cleavage in poliovirus-infected cells.     

Dissociation of the eukaryotic initiation factor-4E/4E-BP1 complex involves phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 by an mTOR-associated kinase.

mTOR immunoprecipitates contain two 4E-BP1 protein kinase activities. One appears to be due to mTOR itself and results in the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 on residues T(36) and T(45), as shown previously by others. The other is a kinase which can be separated from mTOR and which phosphorylates 4E-BP1 within a peptide(s) containing residues S(64) and T(69). This phosphorylation, which occurs predominantly on S(64), results in the dissociation of 4E-BP1 from eIF-4E.     

Functional dissection of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F: the 4A subunit and the central domain of the 4G subunit are sufficient to mediate internal entry of 43S preinitiation complexes.

Eukaryotic translation is initiated following binding of ribosomes either to the capped 5' end of an mRNA or to an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) within its 5' nontranslated region. These processes are both mediated by eukaryotic initiation factor 4F (eIF4F), which consists of eIF4A (helicase), eIF4E (cap-binding protein), and eIF4G subunits. Here we present a functional analysis of eIF4F which defines the subunits and subunit domains necessary for its function in initiation mediated by the prototypical IRES element of encephalomyocarditis virus. In an initiation reaction reconstituted in vitro from purified translation components and lacking eIF4A and -4F, IRES-mediated initiation did not require the cap-binding protein eIF4E but was absolutely dependent on eIF4A and the central third of eIF4G. This central domain of eIF4G bound strongly and specifically to a structural element within the encephalomyocarditis virus IRES upstream of the initiation codon in an ATP-independent manner and with the same specificity as eIF4F. The carboxy-terminal third of eIF4G did not bind to the IRES. The central domain of eIF4G was itself UV cross-linked to the IRES and strongly stimulated UV cross-linking of eIF4A to the IRES in conjunction with either eIF4B or with the carboxy-terminal third of eIF4G.