Disruption of cellular translational control by a viral truncated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α kinase homolog

Phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) is a common cellular mechanism to limit protein synthesis in stress conditions. Baculovirus PK2, which resembles the C-terminal half of a protein kinase domain, was found to inhibit both human and yeast eIF2α kinases. Insect cells infected with wild-type, but not pk2-deleted, baculovirus exhibited reduced eIF2α phosphorylation and increased translational activity. The negative regulatory effect of human protein kinase RNA-regulated (PKR), an eIF2α kinase, on virus production was counteracted by PK2, indicating that baculoviruses have evolved a unique strategy for disrupting a host stress response. PK2 was found in complex with PKR and blocked kinase autophosphorylation in vivo, suggesting a mechanism of kinase inhibition mediated by interaction between truncated and intact kinase domains.

The TOR (target of rapamycin) signal transduction pathway regulates the stability of translation initiation factor eIF4G in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Initiation factor eIF4G is an essential protein required for initiation of mRNA translation via the 5′ cap-dependent pathway. It interacts with eIF4E (the mRNA 5′ cap-binding protein) and serves as an anchor for the assembly of further initiation factors. With treatment of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with rapamycin or with entry of cells into the diauxic phase, eIF4G is rapidly degraded, whereas initiation factors eIF4E and eIF4A remain stable. We propose that nutritional deprivation or interruption of the TOR signal transduction pathway induces eIF4G degradation.

Translation initiation factor eIF4G mediates in vitro poly(A) tail-dependent translation

The yeast translation factor eIF4G associates with both the cap-binding protein eIF4E and the poly(A)-binding protein Pab1p. Here we report that the two yeast eIF4G homologs, Tif4631p and Tif4632p, share a conserved Pab1p-binding site. This site is required for Pab1p and poly(A) tails to stimulate the in vitro translation of uncapped polyadenylylated mRNA, and the region encompassing it is required for the cap and the poly(A) tail to synergistically stimulate translation. This region on Tif4631p becomes essential for cell growth when the eIF4E binding site on Tif4631p is mutated. Pab1p mutations also show synthetic lethal interactions with eIF4E mutations. These data suggest that eIF4G mediates poly(A) tail stimulated translation in vitro, and that Pab1p and the domain encompassing the Pab1p-binding site on eIF4G can compensate for partial loss of eIF4E function in vivo.

Molecular cloning and functional expression of a human cDNA encoding translation initiation factor 6

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 6 (eIF6) binds to the 60S ribosomal subunit and prevents its association with the 40S ribosomal subunit. In this paper, we devised a procedure for purifying eIF6 from rabbit reticulocyte lysates and immunochemically characterized the protein by using antibodies isolated from egg yolks of laying hens immunized with rabbit eIF6. By using these monospecific antibodies, a 1.096-kb human cDNA that encodes an eIF6 of 245 amino acids (calculated Mr 26,558) has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant human protein exhibits biochemical properties that are similar to eIF6 isolated from mammalian cell extracts. Database searches identified amino acid sequences from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila, and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans with significant identity to the deduced amino acid sequence of human eIF6, suggesting the presence of homologues of human eIF6 in these organisms.

A mutant allele of essential, general translation initiation factor DED1 selectively inhibits translation of a viral mRNA

Positive-strand RNA virus genomes are substrates for translation, RNA replication, and encapsidation. To identify host factors involved in these functions, we used the ability of brome mosaic virus (BMV) RNA to replicate in yeast. We report herein identification of a mutation in the essential yeast gene DED1 that inhibited BMV RNA replication but not yeast growth. DED1 encodes a DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp)-box RNA helicase required for translation initiation of all yeast mRNAs. Inhibition of BMV RNA replication by the mutant DED1 allele (ded1–18) resulted from inhibited expression of viral polymerase-like protein 2a, encoded by BMV RNA2. Inhibition of RNA2 translation was selective, with no effect on general cellular translation or translation of BMV RNA1-encoded replication factor 1a, and was independent of p20, a cellular antagonist of DED1 function in translation. Inhibition of RNA2 translation in ded1–18 yeast required the RNA2 5′ noncoding region (NCR), which also conferred a ded1–18-specific reduction in expression on a reporter gene mRNA. Comparison of the similar RNA1 and RNA2 5′ NCRs identified a 31-nucleotide RNA2-specific region that was required for the ded1–18-specific RNA2 translation block and attenuated RNA2 translation in wild-type yeast. Further comparisons and RNA structure predictions suggest a modular arrangement of replication and translation signals in RNA1 and RNA2 5′ NCRs that appears conserved among bromoviruses. The 5′ attenuator and DED1 dependence of RNA2 suggest that, despite its divided genome, BMV regulates polymerase translation relative to other replication factors, just as many single-component RNA viruses use translational read-through and frameshift mechanisms to down-regulate polymerase. The results show that a DEAD-box helicase can selectively activate translation of a specific mRNA and may provide a paradigm for translational regulation by other members of the ubiquitous DEAD-box RNA helicase family.

Crystal structures of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A from Methanococcus jannaschii at 1.8 Å resolution

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) is a ubiquitous protein found in all eukaryotic cells. The protein is closely associated with cell proliferation in the G1–S stage of the cell cycle. Recent findings show that the eIF-5A proteins are highly expressed in tumor cells and act as a cofactor of the Rev protein in HIV-1-infected cells. The mature eIF is the only protein known to have the unusual amino acid hypusine, a post-translationally modified lysine. The crystal structure of eIF-5A from Methanococcus jannaschii (MJ eIF-5A) has been determined at 1.9 Å and 1.8 Å resolution in two crystal forms by using the multiple isomorphous replacement method and the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction method for the first crystal form and the molecular replacement method for the second crystal form. The structure consists of two folding domains, one of which is similar to the oligonucleotide-binding domain found in the prokaryotic cold shock protein and the translation initiation factor IF1 despite the absence of any significant sequence similarities. The 12 highly conserved amino acid residues found among eIF-5As include the hypusine site and form a long protruding loop at one end of the elongated molecule.

Molecular mechanisms of translation initiation in eukaryotes

Translation initiation is a complex process in which initiator tRNA, 40S, and 60S ribosomal subunits are assembled by eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) into an 80S ribosome at the initiation codon of mRNA. The cap-binding complex eIF4F and the factors eIF4A and eIF4B are required for binding of 43S complexes (comprising a 40S subunit, eIF2/GTP/Met-tRNAi and eIF3) to the 5′ end of capped mRNA but are not sufficient to promote ribosomal scanning to the initiation codon. eIF1A enhances the ability of eIF1 to dissociate aberrantly assembled complexes from mRNA, and these factors synergistically mediate 48S complex assembly at the initiation codon. Joining of 48S complexes to 60S subunits to form 80S ribosomes requires eIF5B, which has an essential ribosome-dependent GTPase activity and hydrolysis of eIF2-bound GTP induced by eIF5. Initiation on a few mRNAs is cap-independent and occurs instead by internal ribosomal entry. Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and hepatitis C virus epitomize distinct mechanisms of internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-mediated initiation. The eIF4A and eIF4G subunits of eIF4F bind immediately upstream of the EMCV initiation codon and promote binding of 43S complexes. EMCV initiation does not involve scanning and does not require eIF1, eIF1A, and the eIF4E subunit of eIF4F. Initiation on some EMCV-like IRESs requires additional noncanonical initiation factors, which alter IRES conformation and promote binding of eIF4A/4G. Initiation on the hepatitis C virus IRES is even simpler: 43S complexes containing only eIF2 and eIF3 bind directly to the initiation codon as a result of specific interaction of the IRES and the 40S subunit.

Translation initiation of ornithine decarboxylase and nucleocytoplasmic transport of cyclin D1 mRNA are increased in cells overexpressing eukaryotic initiation factor 4E.

The structure of m7GpppN (where N is any nucleotide), termed cap, is present at the 5' end of all eukaryotic cellular mRNAs (except organellar). The eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) binds to the cap and facilitates the formation of translation initiation complexes. eIF-4E is implicated in control of cell growth, as its overexpression causes malignant transformation of rodent cells and deregulates HeLa cell growth. It was suggested that overexpression of eIF-4E results in the enhanced translation of poorly translated mRNAs that encode growth-promoting proteins. Indeed, enhanced expression of several proteins, including cyclin D1 and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), was documented in eIF-4E-overexpressing NTH 3T3 cells. However, the mechanism underlying this increase has not been elucidated. Here, we studied the mode by which eIF-4E increases the expression of cyclin D1 and ODC. We show that the increase in the amount of cyclin D1 and ODC is directly proportional to the degree of eIF-4E overexpression. Two mechanisms, which are not mutually exclusive, are responsible for the increase. In eIF-4E-overexpressing cells the rate of translation initiation of ODC mRNA was increased inasmuch as the mRNA sedimented with heavier polysomes. For cyclin D1 mRNA, translation initiation was not increased, but rather its amount in the cytoplasm increased, without a significant increase in total mRNA. Whereas, in the parental NIH 3T3 cell line, a large proportion of the cyclin D1 mRNA was confined to the nucleus, in eIF-4E-overexpressing cells the vast majority of the mRNA was present in the cytoplasm. These results indicate that eIF-4E affects directly or indirectly mRNA nucleocytoplasmic transport, in addition to its role in translation initiation.

Alternative translation initiation site usage results in two functionally distinct forms of the GATA-1 transcription factor.

GATA-1 is a zinc-finger transcription factor that plays a critical role in the normal development of hematopoietic cell lineages. In human and murine erythroid cells a previously undescribed 40-kDa protein is detected with GATA-1-specific antibodies. We show that the 40-kDa GATA-1 (GATA-1s) is produced by the use of an internal AUG initiation codon in the GATA-1 transcript. The GATA-1 proteins share identical binding activity and form heterodimers in erythroleukemic cells but differ in their transactivation potential and in their expression in developing mouse embryos.

Association of a M(r) 90,000 phosphoprotein with protein kinase PKR in cells exhibiting enhanced phosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF-2 alpha and premature shutoff of protein synthesis after infection with gamma 134.5- mutants of herpes simplex virus 1.

The protein encoded by the gamma 134.5 gene of herpes simplex virus precludes premature shutoff of protein synthesis in human cells triggered by stress associated with onset of viral DNA synthesis. The carboxyl terminus of the protein is essential for this function. This report indicates that the shutoff of protein synthesis is not due to mRNA degration because mRNA from wild-type or gamma 134.5- virus-infected cells directs protein synthesis. Analyses of the posttranslational modifications of translation initiation factor eIF-2 showed the following: (i) eIF-2 alpha was selectively phosphorylated by a kinase present in ribosome-enriched fraction of cells infected with gamma 134.5- virus. (ii) Endogenous eIF-2 alpha was totally phosphorylated in cells infected with gamma 134.5- virus or a virus lacking the 3' coding domain of the gamma 134.5 gene but was not phosphorylated in mock-infected or wild-type virus-infected cells. (iii) Immune precipitates of the PKR kinase that is responsible for regulation of protein synthesis of some cells by phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha yielded several phosphorylated polypeptides. Of particular significance were two observations. First, phosphorylation of PKR kinase was elevated in all infected cells relative to the levels in mock-infected cells. Second, the precipitates from lysates of cells infected with gamma 134.5- virus or a virus lacking the 3' coding domain of the gamma 134.5 gene contained an additional labeled phosphoprotein of M(r) 90,000 (p90). This phosphoprotein was present in only trace amounts in the immunoprecipitate from cells infected with wild-type virus or mutants lacking a portion of the 5' domain of gamma 134.5. We conclude that in the absence of gamma 134.5 protein, PKR kinase complexes with the p90 phosphoprotein and shuts off protein synthesis by phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of translation initiation factor eIF-2.

Methionine-independent initiation of translation in the capsid protein of an insect RNA virus

Protein synthesis is believed to be initiated with the amino acid methionine because the AUG translation initiation codon of mRNAs is recognized by the anticodon of initiator methionine transfer RNA. A group of positive-stranded RNA viruses of insects, however, lacks an AUG translation initiation codon for their capsid protein gene, which is located at the downstream part of the genome. The capsid protein of one of these viruses, Plautia stali intestine virus, is synthesized by internal ribosome entry site-mediated translation. Here we report that methionine is not the initiating amino acid in the translation of the capsid protein in this virus. Its translation is initiated with glutamine encoded by a CAA codon that is the first codon of the capsid-coding region. The nucleotide sequence immediately upstream of the capsid-coding region interacts with a loop segment in the stem–loop structure located 15–43 nt upstream of the 5′ end of the capsid-coding region. The pseudoknot structure formed by this base pair interaction is essential for translation of the capsid protein. This mechanism for translation initiation differs from the conventional one in that the initiation step controlled by the initiator methionine transfer RNA is not necessary.

DsrA RNA regulates translation of RpoS message by an anti-antisense mechanism, independent of its action as an antisilencer of transcription

DsrA RNA regulates both transcription, by overcoming transcriptional silencing by the nucleoid-associated H-NS protein, and translation, by promoting efficient translation of the stress σ factor, RpoS. These two activities of DsrA can be separated by mutation: the first of three stem-loops of the 85 nucleotide RNA is necessary for RpoS translation but not for anti-H-NS action, while the second stem-loop is essential for antisilencing and less critical for RpoS translation. The third stem-loop, which behaves as a transcription terminator, can be substituted by the trp transcription terminator without loss of either DsrA function. The sequence of the first stem-loop of DsrA is complementary with the upstream leader portion of rpoS messenger RNA, suggesting that pairing of DsrA with the rpoS message might be important for translational regulation. Mutations in the Rpos leader and compensating mutations in DsrA confirm that this predicted pairing is necessary for DsrA stimulation of RpoS translation. We propose that DsrA pairing stimulates RpoS translation by acting as an anti-antisense RNA, freeing the translation initiation region from the cis-acting antisense RNA and allowing increased translation.

The p20 and Ded1 proteins have antagonistic roles in eIF4E-dependent translation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The translation initiation factor eIF4E mediates the binding of the small ribosomal subunit to the cap structure at the 5′ end of the mRNA. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the cap-binding protein eIF4E is mainly associated with eIF4G, forming the cap-binding complex eIF4F. Other proteins are detected upon purification of the complex on cap-affinity columns. Among them is p20, a protein of unknown function encoded by the CAF20 gene. Here, we show a negative regulatory role for the p20 protein in translation initiation. Deletion of CAF20 partially suppresses mutations in translation initiation factors. Overexpression of the p20 protein results in a synthetic enhancement of translation mutation phenotypes. Similar effects are observed for mutations in the DED1 gene, which we have isolated as a multicopy suppressor of a temperature-sensitive eIF4E mutation. The DED1 gene encodes a putative RNA helicase of the DEAD-box family. The analyses of its suppressor activity, of polysome profiles of ded1 mutant strains, and of synthetic lethal interactions with different translation mutants indicate that the Ded1 protein has a role in translation initiation in S. cerevisiae.