Abstract
Delivery of the initiator methionine transfer RNA (Met-tRNAiMet) to the ribosome is a key step in the initiation of protein synthesis. Previous results have indicated that this step is catalyzed by the structurally dissimilar translation factors in prokaryotes and eukaryotes-initiation factor 2 (IF2) and eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2), respectively. A bacterial IF2 homolog has been identified in both eukaryotes and archaea. By using a combination of molecular genetic and biochemical studies, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae IF2 homolog is shown to function in general translation initiation by promoting Met-tRNAiMet binding to ribosomes. Thus, the mechanism of protein synthesis in eukaryotes and prokaryotes is more similar than was previously realized.
Publication types
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Codon, Initiator
-
Cytoplasm / chemistry
-
DNA-Binding Proteins*
-
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / metabolism
-
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / pharmacology
-
Fungal Proteins / biosynthesis
-
Fungal Proteins / genetics
-
Fungal Proteins / metabolism
-
Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational
-
Peptide Initiation Factors / analysis
-
Peptide Initiation Factors / genetics
-
Peptide Initiation Factors / metabolism*
-
Prokaryotic Initiation Factor-2
-
Protein Biosynthesis*
-
Protein Kinases / genetics
-
Protein Kinases / metabolism
-
RNA, Transfer, Met / metabolism*
-
Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
-
Ribosomes / metabolism*
-
Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
-
Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
-
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
Substances
-
Codon, Initiator
-
DNA-Binding Proteins
-
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2
-
Fungal Proteins
-
Met-tRNA(i)(Met)
-
Peptide Initiation Factors
-
Prokaryotic Initiation Factor-2
-
RNA, Transfer, Met
-
Recombinant Fusion Proteins
-
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
-
Protein Kinases