Evaluation and significance of kinetic parameters governing function of protein synthesis initiation factors eIF-2 and eIF-2B

Published data dealing with the formation of the ternary complex eIF-2 X GTP X met-tRNAi involved in eukaryotic initiation have been evaluated to calculate the expected inhibition by GDP and the role of eIF-2B in limiting this inhibition. It is concluded that cellular levels of GDP are unlikely seriously to inhibit ternary complex formation if the reaction can proceed to equilibrium. However, derivation of 'on' and 'off' rates for the interaction of GTP and GDP with eIF-2 demonstrates that these are too slow in the absence of eIF-2B to support active protein synthesis, particularly if eIF-2 is released from ribosomes as eIF-2 X GDP. Whilst eIF-2 X GDP and eIF-2 X GTP appear to dissociate equally slowly, it is concluded that GDP binds to eIF-2 100-times faster than GTP. Addition of eIF-2B has the effect of raising k-1 for both GDP and GTP several hundred-fold and k+1 50- and 7000-fold, respectively. Thus, a kinetic block can be relieved even if there is no change in the thermodynamic state. Phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of eIF-2 appears to affect only those parameters influenced by eIF-2B. The reported rescue of inhibited lysates by addition of 1 mM GTP is not by mass action but by some other mechanism. Consideration of the kinetic parameters favours the formation of a ternary complex of eIF-2 X eIF-2B X GDP en route to eIF-2 X GTP as opposed to displacement of GDP from eIF-2 X GDP by eIF-2B.