scholarly journals Phosphorylation of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4E Is Critical for Growth

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1656-1663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal E. D. Lachance ◽  
Mathieu Miron ◽  
Brian Raught ◽  
Nahum Sonenberg ◽  
Paul Lasko

ABSTRACT Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binds to the cap structure at the 5′ end of mRNAs and is a critical target for the control of protein synthesis. eIF4E is phosphorylated in many systems in response to extracellular stimuli, but biochemical evidence to date has been equivocal as to the biological significance of this modification. Here we use a genetic approach to this problem. We show that, in Drosophila melanogaster, homozygous eIF4E mutants arrest growth during larval development. In Drosophila eIF4EI, Ser251 corresponds to Ser209 of mammalian eIF4E, which is phosphorylated in response to extracellular signals. We find that, in vivo, eIF4EI Ser251 mutants cannot incorporate labeled phosphate. Furthermore, transgenic Drosophila organisms expressing eIF4ESer251Ala in an eIF4E mutant background have reduced viability. Escapers develop more slowly than control siblings and are smaller. These genetic data provide evidence that eIF4E phosphorylation is biologically significant and is essential for normal growth and development.

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 6876-6886 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Z Tarun ◽  
A B Sachs

mRNA translation in crude extracts from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is stimulated by the cap structure and the poly(A) tail through the binding of the cap-binding protein eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and the poly(A) tail-binding protein Pab1p. These proteins also bind to the translation initiation factor eIF4G and thereby link the mRNA to the general translational apparatus. In contrast, uncapped, poly(A)-deficient mRNA is translated poorly in yeast extracts, in part because of the absence of eIF4E and Pab1p binding sites on the mRNA. Here, we report that uncapped-mRNA translation is also repressed in yeast extracts due to the binding of eIF4E to eIF4G. Specifically, we find that mutations which weaken the eIF4E binding site on the yeast eIF4G proteins Tif4631p and Tif4632p lead to temperature-sensitive growth in vivo and the stimulation of uncapped-mRNA translation in vitro. A mutation in eIF4E which disturbs its ability to interact with eIF4G also leads to a stimulation of uncapped-mRNA translation in vitro. Finally, overexpression of eIF4E in vivo or the addition of excess eIF4E in vitro reverses these effects of the mutations. These data support the hypothesis that the eIF4G protein can efficiently stimulate translation of exogenous uncapped mRNA in extracts but is prevented from doing so as a result of its association with eIF4E. They also suggest that some mRNAs may be translationally regulated in vivo in response to the amount of free eIF4G in the cell.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 4499-4511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marshall P. Byrd ◽  
Miguel Zamora ◽  
Richard E. Lloyd

ABSTRACT Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4GI (eIF4GI) is an essential protein that is the target for translational regulation in many cellular processes and viral systems. It has been shown to function in both cap-dependent and cap-independent translation initiation by recruiting the 40S ribosomal subunit to the mRNA cap structure or internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element, respectively. Interestingly eIF4GI mRNA itself has been reported to contain an IRES element in its 5′ end that facilitates eIF4GI protein synthesis via a cap-independent mechanism. In HeLa cells, eIF4GI exists as several isoforms that differ in their migration in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gels; however, the nature of these isoforms was unclear. Here, we report a new cDNA clone for eIF4GI that extends the 5′ sequence 340 nucleotides beyond the previously published sequence. The new extended sequence of eIF4GI is located on chromosome 3, within two additional exons immediately upstream of the previously published eIF4GI sequence. When mRNA transcribed from this cDNA clone was translated in vitro, five eIF4GI polypeptides were generated that comigrated in SDS-polyacrylamide gels with the five isoforms of native eIF4GI. Furthermore, translation of eIF4GI-enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion constructs in vitro or in vivo generated five isoforms of fusion polypeptides, suggesting that multiple isoforms of eIF4GI are generated by alternative translation initiation in vitro and in vivo. Mutation of two of the five in-frame AUG residues in the eIF4GI cDNA sequence resulted in loss of corresponding polypeptides after translation in vitro, confirming alternate use of AUGs as the source of the multiple polypeptides. The 5′ untranslated region of eIF4GI mRNA also contains an out-of-frame open reading frame (ORF) that may down-regulate expression of eIF4GI. Further, data are presented to suggest that a proposed IRES embedded in the eIF4GI ORF is able to catalyze synthesis of multiple eIF4GI isoforms as well. Our data suggest that expression of the eIF4GI isoforms is partly controlled by a complex translation strategy involving both cap-dependent and cap-independent mechanisms.


2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (21) ◽  
pp. 6658-6667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvan Martineau ◽  
Mélanie C. Derry ◽  
Xiaoshan Wang ◽  
Akiko Yanagiya ◽  
Juan José Berlanga ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) stimulates translation initiation by binding simultaneously to the mRNA poly(A) tail and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G). PABP activity is regulated by PABP-interacting (Paip) proteins. Paip1 binds PABP and stimulates translation by an unknown mechanism. Here, we describe the interaction between Paip1 and eIF3, which is direct, RNA independent, and mediated via the eIF3g (p44) subunit. Stimulation of translation by Paip1 in vivo was decreased upon deletion of the N-terminal sequence containing the eIF3-binding domain and upon silencing of PABP or several eIF3 subunits. We also show the formation of ternary complexes composed of Paip1-PABP-eIF4G and Paip1-eIF3-eIF4G. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the eIF3-Paip1 interaction promotes translation. We propose that eIF3-Paip1 stabilizes the interaction between PABP and eIF4G, which brings about the circularization of the mRNA.


2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (19) ◽  
pp. 4671-4686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucie Cuchalová ◽  
Tomáš Kouba ◽  
Anna Herrmannová ◽  
István Dányi ◽  
Wen-ling Chiu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Recent reports have begun unraveling the details of various roles of individual eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) subunits in translation initiation. Here we describe functional characterization of two essential Saccharomyces cerevisiae eIF3 subunits, g/Tif35 and i/Tif34, previously suggested to be dispensable for formation of the 48S preinitiation complexes (PICs) in vitro. A triple-Ala substitution of conserved residues in the RRM of g/Tif35 (g/tif35-KLF) or a single-point mutation in the WD40 repeat 6 of i/Tif34 (i/tif34-Q258R) produces severe growth defects and decreases the rate of translation initiation in vivo without affecting the integrity of eIF3 and formation of the 43S PICs in vivo. Both mutations also diminish induction of GCN4 expression, which occurs upon starvation via reinitiation. Whereas g/tif35-KLF impedes resumption of scanning for downstream reinitiation by 40S ribosomes terminating at upstream open reading frame 1 (uORF1) in the GCN4 mRNA leader, i/tif34-Q258R prevents full GCN4 derepression by impairing the rate of scanning of posttermination 40S ribosomes moving downstream from uORF1. In addition, g/tif35-KLF reduces processivity of scanning through stable secondary structures, and g/Tif35 specifically interacts with Rps3 and Rps20 located near the ribosomal mRNA entry channel. Together these results implicate g/Tif35 and i/Tif34 in stimulation of linear scanning and, specifically in the case of g/Tif35, also in proper regulation of the GCN4 reinitiation mechanism.


Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 158 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-132
Author(s):  
F Les Erickson ◽  
Joseph Nika ◽  
Scott Rippel ◽  
Ernest M Hannig

Abstract Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2) is a G protein heterotrimer required for GTP-dependent delivery of initiator tRNA to the ribosome. eIF2B, the nucleotide exchange factor for eIF2, is a heteropentamer that, in yeast, is encoded by four essential genes and one nonessential gene. We found that increased levels of wild-type eIF2, in the presence of sufficient levels of initiator tRNA, overcome the requirement for eIF2B in vivo. Consistent with bypassing eIF2B, these conditions also suppress the lethal effect of overexpressing the mammalian tumor suppressor PKR, an eIF2α kinase. The effects described are further enhanced in the presence of a mutation in the G protein (γ) subunit of eIF2, gcd11-K250R, which mimics the function of eIF2B in vitro. Interestingly, the same conditions that bypass eIF2B also overcome the requirement for the normally essential eIF2α structural gene (SUI2). Our results suggest that the eIF2βγ complex is capable of carrying out the essential function(s) of eIF2 in the absence of eIF2α and eIF2B and are consistent with the idea that the latter function primarily to regulate the level of eIF2·GTP·Met-tRNAiMet ternary complexes in vivo.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3632-3641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda McKendrick ◽  
Elizabeth Thompson ◽  
Joao Ferreira ◽  
Simon J. Morley ◽  
Joe D. Lewis

ABSTRACT In eukaryotes the majority of mRNAs have an m7G cap that is added cotranscriptionally and that plays an important role in many aspects of mRNA metabolism. The nuclear cap-binding complex (CBC; consisting of CBP20 and CBP80) mediates the stimulatory functions of the cap in pre-mRNA splicing, 3′ end formation, and U snRNA export. As little is known about how nuclear CBC mediates the effects of the cap in higher eukaryotes, we have characterized proteins that interact with CBC in HeLa cell nuclear extracts as potential mediators of its function. Using cross-linking and coimmunoprecipitation, we show that eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G), in addition to its function in the cytoplasm, is a nuclear CBC-interacting protein. We demonstrate that eIF4G interacts with CBC in vitro and that, in addition to its cytoplasmic localization, there is a significant nuclear pool of eIF4G in mammalian cells in vivo. Immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that, in contrast to the cytoplasmic pool, much of the nuclear eIF4G is not associated with eIF4E (translation cap binding protein of eIF4F) but is associated with CBC. While eIF4G stably associates with spliceosomes in vitro and shows close association with spliceosomal snRNPs and splicing factors in vivo, depletion studies show that it does not participate directly in the splicing reaction. Taken together the data indicate that nuclear eIF4G may be recruited to pre-mRNAs via its interaction with CBC and accompanies the mRNA to the cytoplasm, facilitating the switching of CBC for eIF4F. This may provide a mechanism to couple nuclear and cytoplasmic functions of the mRNA cap structure.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 4900-4908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjanette Searfoss ◽  
Thomas E. Dever ◽  
Reed Wickner

ABSTRACT The 3′ poly(A) structure improves translation of a eukaryotic mRNA by 50-fold in vivo. This enhancement has been suggested to be due to an interaction of the poly(A) binding protein, Pab1p, with eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G). However, we find that mutation of eIF4G eliminating its interaction with Pab1p does not diminish the preference for poly(A)+ mRNA in vivo, indicating another role for poly(A). We show that either the absence of Fun12p (eIF5B), or a defect in eIF5, proteins involved in 60S ribosomal subunit joining, specifically reduces the translation of poly(A)+ mRNA, suggesting that poly(A) may have a role in promoting the joining step. Deletion of two nonessential putative RNA helicases (genes SKI2 and SLH1) makes poly(A) dispensable for translation. However, in the absence of Fun12p, eliminating Ski2p and Slh1p shows little enhancement of expression of non-poly(A) mRNA. This suggests that Ski2p and Slh1p block translation of non-poly(A) mRNA by an effect on Fun12p, possibly by affecting 60S subunit joining.


2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (21) ◽  
pp. 5218-5233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal Dev ◽  
Hongfang Qiu ◽  
Jinsheng Dong ◽  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Dominik Barthlme ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) is the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2, which stimulates formation of the eIF2-GTP-Met-tRNA i Met ternary complex (TC) in a manner inhibited by phosphorylated eIF2 [eIF2(αP)]. While eIF2B contains five subunits, the ε/Gcd6 subunit is sufficient for GEF activity in vitro. The δ/Gcd2 and β/Gcd7 subunits function with α/Gcn3 in the eIF2B regulatory subcomplex that mediates tight, inhibitory binding of eIF2(αP)-GDP, but the essential functions of δ/Gcd2 and β/Gcd7 are not well understood. We show that the depletion of wild-type β/Gcd7, three lethal β/Gcd7 amino acid substitutions, and a synthetically lethal combination of substitutions in β/Gcd7 and eIF2α all impair eIF2 binding to eIF2B without reducing ε/Gcd6 abundance in the native eIF2B-eIF2 holocomplex. Additionally, β/Gcd7 mutations that impair eIF2B function display extensive allele-specific interactions with mutations in the S1 domain of eIF2α (harboring the phosphorylation site), which binds to eIF2B directly. Consistent with this, β/Gcd7 can overcome the toxicity of eIF2(αP) and rescue native eIF2B function when overexpressed with δ/Gcd2 or γ/Gcd1. In aggregate, these findings provide compelling evidence that β/Gcd7 is crucial for binding of substrate by eIF2B in vivo, beyond its dispensable regulatory role in the inhibition of eIF2B by eIF (αP).


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