GCD11, a negative regulator of GCN4 expression, encodes the gamma subunit of eIF-2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 506-520
Author(s):  
E M Hannig ◽  
A M Cigan ◽  
B A Freeman ◽  
T G Kinzy
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Translation Initiation Factor ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Translational Efficiency ◽  
Gamma Subunit

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF-2 plays a critical role in regulating the expression of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4. Mutations in genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of eIF-2 alter translational efficiency at the GCN4 AUG codon and constitutively elevate GCN4 translation. Mutations in the yeast GCD11 gene have been shown to confer a similar phenotype. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned GCD11 gene predicts a 527-amino-acid polypeptide that is similar to the prokaryotic translation elongation factor EF-Tu. Relative to EF-Tu, the deduced GCD11 amino acid sequence contains a 90-amino-acid N-terminal extension and an internal cysteine-rich sequence that contains a potential metal-binding finger motif. We have identified the GCD11 gene product as the gamma subunit of eIF-2 by the following criteria: (i) sequence identities with mammalian eIF-2 gamma peptides; (ii) increased eIF-2 activity in extracts prepared from cells cooverexpressing GCD11, eIF-2 alpha, and eIF-2 beta; and (iii) cross-reactivity of antibodies directed against the GCD11 protein with the 58-kDa polypeptide present in purified yeast eIF-2. The predicted GCD11 polypeptide contains all of the consensus elements known to be required for guanine nucleotide binding, suggesting that, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the gamma subunit of eIF-2 is responsible for GDP-GTP binding.

scholarly journals GCD11, a negative regulator of GCN4 expression, encodes the gamma subunit of eIF-2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 506-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
E M Hannig ◽  
A M Cigan ◽  
B A Freeman ◽  
T G Kinzy
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Translation Initiation Factor ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Translational Efficiency ◽  
Gamma Subunit

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF-2 plays a critical role in regulating the expression of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4. Mutations in genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of eIF-2 alter translational efficiency at the GCN4 AUG codon and constitutively elevate GCN4 translation. Mutations in the yeast GCD11 gene have been shown to confer a similar phenotype. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned GCD11 gene predicts a 527-amino-acid polypeptide that is similar to the prokaryotic translation elongation factor EF-Tu. Relative to EF-Tu, the deduced GCD11 amino acid sequence contains a 90-amino-acid N-terminal extension and an internal cysteine-rich sequence that contains a potential metal-binding finger motif. We have identified the GCD11 gene product as the gamma subunit of eIF-2 by the following criteria: (i) sequence identities with mammalian eIF-2 gamma peptides; (ii) increased eIF-2 activity in extracts prepared from cells cooverexpressing GCD11, eIF-2 alpha, and eIF-2 beta; and (iii) cross-reactivity of antibodies directed against the GCD11 protein with the 58-kDa polypeptide present in purified yeast eIF-2. The predicted GCD11 polypeptide contains all of the consensus elements known to be required for guanine nucleotide binding, suggesting that, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the gamma subunit of eIF-2 is responsible for GDP-GTP binding.

scholarly journals Evidence that GCD6 and GCD7, translational regulators of GCN4, are subunits of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for eIF-2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1920-1932 ◽  
Author(s):  
J L Bushman ◽  
A I Asuru ◽  
R L Matts ◽  
A G Hinnebusch
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Translation Initiation Factor ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
High Molecular Weight Complex ◽  
Exchange Factor

Starvation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae for an amino acid signals increased translation of GCN4, a transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes. We have isolated and characterized the GCD6 and GCD7 genes and shown that their products are required to repress GCN4 translation under nonstarvation conditions. We find that both GCD6 and GCD7 show sequence similarities to components of a high-molecular-weight complex (the GCD complex) that appears to be the yeast equivalent of translation initiation factor 2B (eIF-2B), which catalyzes GDP-GTP exchange on eIF-2. Furthermore, we show that GCD6 is 30% identical to the largest subunit of eIF-2B isolated from rabbit reticulocytes. Deletion of either GCD6 or GCD7 is lethal, and nonlethal mutations in these genes increase GCN4 translation in the same fashion described for defects in known subunits of eIF-2 or the GCD complex; derepression of GCN4 is dependent on short open reading frames in the GCN4 mRNA leader and occurs independently of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation by protein kinase GCN2, which is normally required to stimulate GCN4 translation. Together, our results provide evidence that GCD6 and GCD7 are subunits of eIF-2B in S. cerevisiae and further implicate this GDP-GTP exchange factor in gene-specific translational control.

Identification of GCD14 and GCD15, Novel Genes Required for Translational Repression of GCN4 mRNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 148 (3) ◽  
pp. 1007-1020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Cuesta ◽  
Alan G Hinnebusch ◽  
Mercedes Tamame
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Translation Initiation ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Mrna Translation ◽  
Translation Initiation Factor ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
New Genes ◽  
General Translation

Abstract In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, expression of the transcriptional activator GCN4 increases at the translational level in response to starvation for an amino acid. The products of multiple GCD genes are required for efficient repression of GCN4 mRNA translation under nonstarvation conditions. The majority of the known GCD genes encode subunits of the general translation initiation factor eIF-2 or eIF-2B. To identify additional initiation factors in yeast, we characterized 65 spontaneously arising Gcd− mutants. In addition to the mutations that were complemented by known GCD genes or by GCN3, we isolated mutant alleles of two new genes named GCD14 and GCD15. Recessive mutations in these two genes led to highly unregulated GCN4 expression and to derepressed transcription of genes in the histidine biosynthetic pathway under GCN4 control. The derepression of GCN4 expression in gcd14 and gcd15 mutants occurred with little or no increase in GCN4 mRNA levels, and it was dependent on upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in GCN4 mRNA that regulate its translation. We conclude that GCD14 and GCD15 are required for repression of GCN4 mRNA translation by the uORFs under conditions of amino acid sufficiency. The gcd14 and gcd15 mutations confer a slow-growth phenotype on nutrient-rich medium, and gcd15 mutations are lethal when combined with a mutation in gcd13. Like other known GCD genes, GCD14 and GCD15 are therefore probably required for general translation initiation in addition to their roles in GCN4-specific translational control.

Truncated protein phosphatase GLC7 restores translational activation of GCN4 expression in yeast mutants defective for the eIF-2 alpha kinase GCN2

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5700-5710
Author(s):  
R C Wek ◽  
J F Cannon ◽  
T E Dever ◽  
A G Hinnebusch
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Protein Phosphatase ◽  
Translation Initiation Factor ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Translational Efficiency ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Truncated Form

GCN2 is a protein kinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is required for increased expression of the transcriptional activator GCN4 in amino acid-starved cells. GCN2 stimulates GCN4 synthesis at the translational level by phosphorylating the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). We identified a truncated form of the GLC7 gene, encoding the catalytic subunit of a type 1 protein phosphatase, by its ability to restore derepression of GCN4 expression in a strain containing the partially defective gcn2-507 allele. Genetic analysis suggests that the truncated GLC7 allele has a dominant negative phenotype, reducing the level of native type 1 protein phosphatase activity in the cell. The truncated form of GLC7 does not suppress the regulatory defect associated with a gcn2 deletion or a mutation in the phosphorylation site of eIF-2 alpha (Ser-51). In addition, the presence of multiple copies of wild-type GLC7 impairs the derepression of GCN4 that occurs in response to amino acid starvation or dominant-activating mutations in GCN2. These findings suggest that the phosphatase activity of GLC7 acts in opposition to the kinase activity of GCN2 in modulating the level of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation and the translational efficiency of GCN4 mRNA. This conclusion is supported by biochemical studies showing that the truncated GLC7 allele increases the level of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation in the gcn2-507 mutant to a level approaching that seen in wild-type cells under starvation conditions. The truncated GLC7 allele also leads to reduced glycogen accumulation, indicating that this protein phosphatase is involved in regulating diverse metabolic pathways in yeast cells.

scholarly journals Truncated protein phosphatase GLC7 restores translational activation of GCN4 expression in yeast mutants defective for the eIF-2 alpha kinase GCN2.

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5700-5710 ◽  
Author(s):  
R C Wek ◽  
J F Cannon ◽  
T E Dever ◽  
A G Hinnebusch
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Protein Phosphatase ◽  
Translation Initiation Factor ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Translational Efficiency ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Truncated Form

GCN2 is a protein kinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is required for increased expression of the transcriptional activator GCN4 in amino acid-starved cells. GCN2 stimulates GCN4 synthesis at the translational level by phosphorylating the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). We identified a truncated form of the GLC7 gene, encoding the catalytic subunit of a type 1 protein phosphatase, by its ability to restore derepression of GCN4 expression in a strain containing the partially defective gcn2-507 allele. Genetic analysis suggests that the truncated GLC7 allele has a dominant negative phenotype, reducing the level of native type 1 protein phosphatase activity in the cell. The truncated form of GLC7 does not suppress the regulatory defect associated with a gcn2 deletion or a mutation in the phosphorylation site of eIF-2 alpha (Ser-51). In addition, the presence of multiple copies of wild-type GLC7 impairs the derepression of GCN4 that occurs in response to amino acid starvation or dominant-activating mutations in GCN2. These findings suggest that the phosphatase activity of GLC7 acts in opposition to the kinase activity of GCN2 in modulating the level of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation and the translational efficiency of GCN4 mRNA. This conclusion is supported by biochemical studies showing that the truncated GLC7 allele increases the level of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation in the gcn2-507 mutant to a level approaching that seen in wild-type cells under starvation conditions. The truncated GLC7 allele also leads to reduced glycogen accumulation, indicating that this protein phosphatase is involved in regulating diverse metabolic pathways in yeast cells.

Evidence that GCD6 and GCD7, translational regulators of GCN4, are subunits of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for eIF-2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1920-1932
Author(s):  
J L Bushman ◽  
A I Asuru ◽  
R L Matts ◽  
A G Hinnebusch
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Translation Initiation Factor ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
High Molecular Weight Complex ◽  
Exchange Factor

Starvation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae for an amino acid signals increased translation of GCN4, a transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes. We have isolated and characterized the GCD6 and GCD7 genes and shown that their products are required to repress GCN4 translation under nonstarvation conditions. We find that both GCD6 and GCD7 show sequence similarities to components of a high-molecular-weight complex (the GCD complex) that appears to be the yeast equivalent of translation initiation factor 2B (eIF-2B), which catalyzes GDP-GTP exchange on eIF-2. Furthermore, we show that GCD6 is 30% identical to the largest subunit of eIF-2B isolated from rabbit reticulocytes. Deletion of either GCD6 or GCD7 is lethal, and nonlethal mutations in these genes increase GCN4 translation in the same fashion described for defects in known subunits of eIF-2 or the GCD complex; derepression of GCN4 is dependent on short open reading frames in the GCN4 mRNA leader and occurs independently of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation by protein kinase GCN2, which is normally required to stimulate GCN4 translation. Together, our results provide evidence that GCD6 and GCD7 are subunits of eIF-2B in S. cerevisiae and further implicate this GDP-GTP exchange factor in gene-specific translational control.

How Optimized Is the Translational Machinery in Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae?

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuhua Xia
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Salmonella Typhimurium ◽  
Codon Usage ◽  
Translational Efficiency ◽  
Square Root ◽  
Translational Machinery ◽  
Mutual Adaptation ◽  
Trna Species

Abstract The optimization of the translational machinery in cells requires the mutual adaptation of codon usage and tRNA concentration, and the adaptation of tRNA concentration to amino acid usage. Two predictions were derived based on a simple deterministic model of translation which assumes that elongation of the peptide chain is rate-limiting. The highest translational efficiency is achieved when the codon recognized by the most abundant tRNA reaches the maximum frequency. For each codon family, the tRNA concentration is optimally adapted to codon usage when the concentration of different tRNA species matches the square-root of the frequency of their corresponding synonymous codons. When tRNA concentration and codon usage are well adapted to each other, the optimal content of all tRNA species carrying the same amino acid should match the square-root of the frequency of the amino acid. These predictions are examined against empirical data from Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

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