Previous Article | Next Article ![]()
Journal of Virology, July 2004, p. 7707-7716, Vol. 78, No. 14
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.14.7707-7716.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
> Qiaoran Xi, and Robert J. Schneider*
Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016
Received 13 January 2004/ Accepted 12 March 2004
|
|
|---|
|
|
|---|
Phosphorylation of eIF4E at Ser209 by Mnk kinases usually correlates with stimulation of cap-dependent mRNA translation, although there are exceptions, such as the response to arsenite or anisomycin stresses (7, 11, 47). A molecular understanding of eIF4E phosphorylation in stimulating mRNA translation is lacking, and some data bring into question its importance altogether (21, 29). Recent data suggest that phosphorylation of eIF4E might decrease its affinity for capped mRNA (39), perhaps implicating eIF4E phosphorylation in release of eIF4F from the cap during the translation initiation process (38, 39). Dephosphorylation of eIF4E strongly correlates with inhibition or impairment of cap-dependent mRNA translation under certain stress conditions such as heat shock (reviewed in reference 41), nutrient deprivation, oxidative or osmotic stress (47), and infection of mammalian cells with certain viruses such as adenovirus (Ad) (17) or influenza virus (6), among others. In these cases, disassembly of the eIF4F complex (2, 3, 32, 34, 47) or displacement of Mnk1 from eIF4G (3) can explain dephosphorylation of eIF4E.
Ad infection leads to the inhibition of cap-dependent translation at the beginning of the late phase of infection, when the virus initiates DNA replication (4, 40). Ad inhibition of cellular protein synthesis correlates with a strong decrease in eIF4E phosphorylation (17, 53), but it does not involve eIF4E sequestration by the 4E-binding proteins (5, 12), in contrast to certain stress conditions (32, 34, 47). We recently established that the Ad late L4 100-kilodalton (L4 100K) protein inhibits cellular protein synthesis, consistent with its binding to eIF4G, displacement of Mnk1, and dephosphorylation of eIF4E (3). However, 100K is a large protein displaying several activities, which make it difficult to demonstrate that 100K displacement of Mnk1 from eIF4G and dephosphorylation of eIF4E are actually responsible for inhibition of host cell protein synthesis.
Ad late mRNAs are translated despite inhibition of host cell protein synthesis due to the presence of a 200-nucleotide 5' noncoding region, known as the tripartite leader. The tripartite leader promotes translation by a novel initiation mechanism known as ribosome shunting (reviewed in references 4, 51, and 52). In ribosome shunting, 40S ribosomal subunits bind the cap structure with eIF4G but are directed by the tripartite leader to translocate to the downstream initiating AUG in a nonlinear manner, bypassing intervening RNA regions. Ribosome shunting in late Ad-infected cells is enhanced with dephosphorylation of eIF4E and inhibition of host cell protein synthesis (51, 52).
There is at present little understanding of the molecular mechanism by which 100K protein inhibits host cell protein synthesis during Ad infection, how 100K binds to eIF4G and displaces Mnk1, and whether the 100K-eIF4G interaction and dephosphorylation of eIF4E are sufficient to account for Ad inhibition of cellular protein synthesis. Here we report the molecular mechanism for Ad inhibition of host cell protein synthesis. We demonstrate that 100K and Mnk1 proteins share a binding region for eIF4G and that ectopic expression of a small (66-amino-acid) peptide of 100K protein is sufficient to block cellular mRNA translation by preventing Mnk1 binding and blocking eIF4E phosphorylation.
|
|
|---|
The pCMV-ß-Gal plasmid was described previously (5), containing the ß-galactosidase (ß-Gal) sequence. Rabbit polyclonal antiserum to eIF4G was previously described (3). Other antibodies were from commercial sources and included affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal antibody to eIF4E (Cell Signaling Technology), affinity-purified anti-glutathione S-transferase (anti-GST) rabbit polyclonal antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), mouse antihemagglutinin (anti-HA) monoclonal antibody (HA.11; Covance), mouse anti-Flag M2 monoclonal antibody (Sigma), rabbit anti-green fluorescent protein (anti-GFP) antibody (Molecular Probes), and rabbit anti-ß-Gal antibody (Cortex Biochemicals). 293T and HeLa cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (Cellgro) supplemented with 10% calf serum (HyClone). 293T cells were transfected by calcium phosphate coprecipitation. HeLa cells were transfected with Lipofectamine Plus (Invitrogen).
In vitro RNA-protein interactions. 293T cells were transfected with plasmids expressing Flag, Flag-100K [1-726], or Flag-100K [1-345] protein, and cellular lysates were prepared in NP-40 lysis buffer (0.5% NP-40, 50 mM HEPES [pH 7.0], 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA, 2 mM sodium orthovanadate, 25 mM glycerophosphate, protease inhibitor cocktail tablet [Roche]). Lysates were incubated for 3 h at 4°C with anti-Flag antisera and for 1 h at 4°C with protein G agarose (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) before being washed five times with the same lysis buffer. Capped or uncapped CR3 5'-UTR-containing RNAs were transcribed in vitro with MAXIscript (System Ambion Inc.). Equal amounts of immunocomplexes were incubated with 4 ng of RNA for 30 min at 30°C in 20 µl of binding buffer (10 mM HEPES-KOH [pH 7.2], 3 mM MgCl2, 80 mM KCl, 5% glycerol, 1 mM dithiothreitol). RNA-protein complexes were UV cross-linked on ice with a 254-nm UV light source for 10 min (1 J/cm2) and then treated with 40 µg of RNase A and 10 U of RNase T1 for 30 min at 37°C. Complexes were collected by centrifugation and resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-10% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Gels were fixed, and autoradiography was performed.
Immunofluorescence microscopy. HeLa cells were transfected with plasmids expressing Flag-100K, Flag-100K [1-726], or Flag-100K [1-345] proteins and grown on coverslips. Cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for 10 min at 25°C, blocked in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) plus 1% nonfat dry milk (NFDM) for 30 min at 25°C, and then incubated with antibodies to Flag in PBS-1% NFDM for 1 h at 37°C. Fixed cells were washed four times with PBS-1% NFDM, reacted with anti-mouse immunoglobulin G-fluorescein and F(ab')2 fragment for 1 h at 37°C, and then washed four times with PBS-1% NFDM and stained with Hoechst 33258 (Sigma) before being mounted with Vectashield mounting medium (Vector Laboratories). Cells were visualized and photographed using a Zeiss Axiophot microscope.
Immunoprecipitation and glutathione-Sepharose 4B recovery. 293T cells were lysed in NP-40 lysis buffer and clarified by centrifugation for 10 min at 14,000 x g. Lysates were precleared for 2 h at 4°C with 30 µl of protein A or protein G agarose and then incubated overnight with the indicated antiserum (preimmune serum, anti-eIF4G, or Ezview Red anti-Flag M2 affinity gel [Sigma]). When required, protein A agarose was added and incubation was continued for 1 h at 4°C before lysates were washed five times with lysis buffer. For GST pull-downs, lysates were incubated with 30 µl of a 50% slurry of glutathione-Sepharose 4B for 1 h at 4°C and then washed five times with lysis buffer. For Mnk1-eIF4G interaction studies, cellular lysates were prepared with Triton lysis buffer (1% Triton X-100, 50 mM NaF, 10 mM HEPES [pH 7.4], 2 mM EDTA, 2 mM sodium orthovanadate, 0.1% ß-mercaptoethanol, protease inhibitor cocktail tablet [Roche]) or NP-40 lysis buffer, which is the same as that above but substitutes Triton for 1% NP-40 detergent and 50 mM NaF for 150 mM NaCl.
Isoelectric focusing. One-dimensional vertical isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis was carried out for analysis of eIF4E phosphorylation, performed as described previously (28).
|
|
|---|
![]() View larger version (39K): [in a new window] |
FIG. 1. Characterization of 100K protein. (A) Predicted structural regions identified within the 100K protein are indicated by amino acid position: coiled-coil region (CCR 439-458), RRM 383-458, Rev-like NES 383-392, RGG box, and overlapping NLS 727-764. (B) 293T cells were transfected with plasmids expressing Flag, Flag-100K, or truncated versions of 100K retaining amino acid sequences as indicated: Flag-100K [1-726] (with RGG box) or Flag-100K [1-345] (without RRM and RRG box). Flag-tagged proteins were isolated by immunoprecipitation with anti-Flag antibody. Equal amounts of Flag immune complexes as shown by immunoblotting (right panel) were incubated with 4 ng of 32P-labeled, in vitro-transcribed RNAs corresponding to the capped or uncapped-CR3 5' UTR. (see Materials and Methods for more details). RNA-protein complexes were subjected to UV cross-linking, and complexes were analyzed by denaturing SDS-10% PAGE followed by autoradiography (left panel). PI indicates immunoprecipitation with preimmune serum. Quantification in all figures was obtained by densitometry of typical results from at least three independent experiments and is described in the text. (C) HeLa cells were transfected with plasmids expressing Flag-100K, Flag-100K RGG [1-726], or Flag-100K NES and grown on coverslips. Cells were fixed-permeabilized and incubated with anti-Flag antibody, followed by incubation with mouse secondary antibody coupled to fluorescein. Nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33258 dye. Cells were visualized and photographed using a Zeiss Axiophot microscope. IF, immunofluorescence.
|
100K protein is found in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm (9). Since a cytoplasmic location is likely critical for inhibition of host cell translation, we identified the signals involved in nuclear import and export of 100K. The high arginine content within and flanking the 100K RGG box implicated this region as a component of the NLS, as described for the yeast hnRNP protein Npl3p (42). An arginine cluster occurs between amino acids 753 and 764 of 100K protein, and a potential Rev-like NES element is located between amino acids 383 and 392. The 100K sequence 383LCNLVSYLGI392 matches the consensus Rev-like NES LX(1-3)LX(2-3)LXL/I (15). Positions L383, L386, L390, and I392 were therefore changed to alanine (Flag-100K
NES), and HeLa cells were transfected with plasmids expressing Flag-100K, Flag-100K
RGG [1-726] (RGG box deletion), or Flag-100K
NES proteins. Nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33258 dye, and cells were subjected to immunofluorescence analysis with anti-Flag antibody (Fig. 1C). Wild-type 100K protein localized to both the nucleus and cytoplasm in transfected cells, Flag-100K
NES localized only to the nucleus, and Flag-100K
RGG localized to the cytoplasm but with evident concentration about the nuclear membrane. These results demonstrate that a NES element is located between 100K positions 383 and 392 and that an NLS is located within the RGG box region.
The eIF4G-binding site in 100K was next identified and mutated. 293T cells were transfected with plasmids expressing Flag-100K protein or C-terminal deletion mutants lacking either the RGG box or both the RRM element and the RGG box (Fig. 2). Three additional 100K mutants that were deleted in the N terminus, Flag-100K
[122-805], Flag-100K
[266-805], and Flag-100K
[346-805], were insoluble and therefore could not be investigated. Endogenous eIF4GI was immunoprecipitated from equal amounts of cell lysate, and its interaction with Flag-tagged wild-type or truncated 100K proteins was examined by immunoblot analysis. All three 100K mutants which retained the N-terminal region interacted with eIF4GI. Thus, the N terminus of 100K protein is sufficient for eIF4G binding and is located between residues 1 and 345.
![]() View larger version (51K): [in a new window] |
FIG. 2. Mapping of eIF4G-binding site within 100K protein. 293T cells were transfected with plasmids as indicated, and then at 36 h posttransfection equal amounts of total protein lysates were incubated with eIF4G antiserum (eIF4G IP) or preimmune serum (Preim. IP). Immune complexes were resolved by SDS-10% PAGE, and associated proteins were detected by immunoblot analysis of endogenous eIF4G (anti-eIF4G) or Flag (anti-Flag). Typical results from at least three independent experiments are shown. IgG, immunoglobulin G; CCR, coiled-coil region.
|
RGG [1-726]) bound eIF4G strongly, as expected since it retains the N terminus of the 100K protein. However, Flag-100K deletion mutants which lack the N terminus did not bind strongly to eIF4G. The Flag-100K
NES mutant, which is restricted to the nucleus, also failed to bind eIF4G (data not shown). Studies therefore focused on the importance of 100K peptide between positions 201 and 345. Further deletion GST-100K mutants were generated (Fig. 3B) corresponding to 100K amino acids 201 to 261, 201 to 299, 239 to 345, and 280 to 345. GST-100K protein fragments were coexpressed in 293T cells with HA-eIF4GI, GST fusion proteins were isolated by glutathione-Sepharose chromatography, and their interaction with HA-eIF4GI was determined by immunoblot analysis (Fig. 3B). Strong binding was detected between HA-eIF4GI and 100K peptides containing amino acids 239 to 345 and 280 to 345 but not 100K peptides containing amino acids 201 to 299 or 201 to 261. Thus, a small 66-amino-acid peptide of 100K protein (positions 280 to 345) is sufficient for eIF4G binding and does not require RNA binding or protein-shuttling motifs for this interaction.
![]() View larger version (28K): [in a new window] |
FIG. 3. Fine mapping of eIF4G-binding site within 100K protein. (A) 293T cells were cotransfected with plasmids expressing HA-eIF4GI (20) and either GST or GST-100K plasmids containing 100K peptides as shown. At 36 h posttransfection GST fusion proteins were recovered by glutathione-Sepharose chromatography and resolved by SDS-10% PAGE, and HA-eIF4GI-associated proteins were detected by immunoblot analysis. (B) 293T cells were cotransfected with plasmids as described above, and GST fusion proteins associated with HA-eIF4GI were analyzed. Typical results from at least three independent experiments are shown. CCR, coiled-coil region.
|
![]() View larger version (47K): [in a new window] |
FIG. 4. Human and mouse Mnk1 and Ad late 100K protein share a hydrophilically charged amino acid-rich sequence required for binding to eIF4G. (A) Alignment of homologous sequences found in human and mouse eIF4E kinase, Mnk1 proteins, and Ad 100K protein. (B) 293T cells were cotransfected with plasmids expressing HA-eIF4GI and GST or GST-100K plasmids. 100K peptides are indicated by amino acid number of retained fragments. 280-345 RRKA is a 100K mutant peptide containing AAA instead of the homologous RRK sequence. GST-Mnk1 is a wild-type clone. GST-Mnk1[RRKA] is a mouse Mnk1 mutant with AAA instead of RRK. At 36 h posttransfection cellular extracts were prepared and equal amounts of total protein were incubated with glutathione-Sepharose to recover GST fusion proteins. Complexes were resolved by SDS-10% PAGE, and the association of eIF4GI with GST proteins was detected by immunoblot analysis with HA antibody. Expression levels of input HA-eIF4GI and GST fusion proteins (first and third panels from left) were determined by immunoblotting. (C) 293T cells were transfected with plasmids expressing HA-eIF4GI and either Flag or Flag-Mnk1, or GST or GST-Mnk1. Cellular lysates were prepared with 50 mM NaF or 150 mM NaCl, respectively, at 36 h posttransfection. Flag-tagged or GST fusion proteins were isolated by immunoprecipitation with anti-Flag antibody or by glutathione-Sepharose 4B chromatography, respectively, and proteins were resolved by SDS-10% PAGE. Interaction of Flag-Mnk1 and GST-100K [280-345] with HA-eIF4GI was detected by immunoblotting with an antibody to the HA epitope. Typical results from at least three independent experiments are shown.
|
Binding of 100K peptide to eIF4GI is sufficient to block Mnk1 association, eIF4E phosphorylation, and non-Ad mRNA translation. Having defined the core binding site of 100K protein for eIF4G, studies determined whether the minimal 100K peptide (amino acids 280 to 345) is sufficient to inhibit Mnk1-eIF4GI interaction. 293T cells were transfected with plasmids expressing HA-eIF4GI, Flag, or Flag-Mnk1 and either GST, GST-100K [280-345], or GST-100K [280-345 RRKA] protein. Cell extracts were prepared, and equal amounts of total protein were immunoprecipitated with anti-Flag antibody to isolate Flag or Flag-Mnk1 complexes. Complexes were resolved by SDS-10% PAGE, and the interaction of Mnk1 with HA-eIF4GI was analyzed by immunoblotting with the use of anti-HA antibody for eIF4GI, anti-Flag for Mnk1, and anti-GST for 100K protein (Fig. 5, right panels). Protein expression was consistent in the different transfections (Fig. 5, left panels). Coexpression of the minimal 100K peptide (amino acids 280 to 345, which contains the eIF4GI-binding site) and Mnk1 resulted predominantly in dissociation of Mnk1 protein from eIF4G and accumulation of eIF4G-100K peptide complexes. However, the RRKA mutant of 100K peptide, which has impaired eIF4G-binding activity, did not compete for eIF4G binding and did not displace Mnk1. Accordingly, isolation of GST-100K proteins by glutathione-Sepharose chromatography and immunoblot analysis demonstrated that the GST-100K [280-345] peptide bound strongly to HA-eIF4G, consistent with inhibition of Mnk1 binding. There was only very weak binding of the RRKA mutant of 100K peptide to eIF4G. These data indicate that binding of the minimal wild-type 100K peptide (amino acids 280 to 345) to eIF4GI is sufficient to displace Mnk1 from eIF4G or impair its binding.
![]() View larger version (56K): [in a new window] |
FIG. 5. Analysis of Mnk1 protein displacement from eIF4G polypeptide by either wild-type or RRKA mutant 100K [280-345] peptides. 293T cells were transfected with plasmids expressing HA-eIF4GI, Flag or Flag-Mnk1, and either GST, GST-100K [280-345], or GST-100K [280-345 RRKA]. At 36 h posttransfection, cells were lysed and Flag-tagged proteins were immunoprecipitated by Ezview Red anti-Flag M2 affinity gel and resolved by SDS-10% PAGE. Proteins associated with Flag-tagged proteins (Flag or Flag-Mnk1) were detected by immunoblot analysis using antibodies specific to the HA epitope for HA-eIF4GI and anti-GST for GST-100K [280-345] peptides (right panels). GST proteins were recovered by glutathione-Sepharose beads and resolved by SDS-10% PAGE, and associated proteins were identified by immunoblot analysis as shown. Levels of ectopically expressed proteins are shown in the left panels. Immunoblots were quantified by densitometry, and standard deviations were calculated from three independent experiments.
|
70% (±10%) being in the nonphosphorylated form. The GST-100K [280-345 RRKA] mutant peptide only slightly decreased HA-eIF4E phosphorylation. Given that 100K protein levels in Ad-infected cells are much higher than those in transfected cells (3), we can conclude that binding of the 100K peptide to eIF4G during late Ad infection is sufficient to displace Mnk1 and impair eIF4E phosphorylation. Studies were also carried out to examine the effect of overexpression of GST-Mnk1 or the GST-Mnk1[RRKA] mutant on eIF4E phosphorylation. The wild-type Mnk1 protein demonstrated slightly enhanced HA-eIF4E phosphorylation, whereas the RRKA mutant had no effect, as expected (Fig. 6A).
![]() View larger version (35K): [in a new window] |
FIG. 6. eIF4E phosphorylation and cap-dependent translation in cells expressing wild-type or mutant 100K peptides. (A) 293T cells were cotransfected with plasmids expressing HA-eIF4E and either GST, GST-100K [280-345], GST-100K [280-345 RRKA], mouse GST-Mnk1, or GST-Mnk1[RRKA] proteins. At 36 h posttransfection cellular extracts were prepared, HA-eIF4E was immunoprecipitated, and protein amounts were normalized by HA-eIF4E protein levels (middle panel), and then eIF4E phosphorylation was assessed by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing (IEF) gel electrophoresis (top panel). (B) 293T cells were transfected with plasmids expressing ß-Gal (cap-dependent translation), GFP (EMCV IRES-dependent translation), and either GST, GST-100K [280-345], GST-100K [280-345 RRKA], GST-Mnk1, or GST-Mnk1[RRKA] proteins. At 36 h posttransfection cells were lysed, and after normalization by GFP, proteins were resolved by SDS-10% PAGE and subjected to immunoblot analysis for the indicated proteins. (C) 293T cells were transfected with plasmids expressing ß-Gal (Ad tripartite leader-dependent translation), GFP (EMCV IRES-dependent translation), and either GST, GST-100K [280-345], GST-100K [280-345 RRKA], GST-Mnk1, or GST-Mnk1[RRKA]. At 36 h posttransfection, equal amounts of total protein were resolved by SDS-10% PAGE, transferred to a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane, and immunoblotted as shown. Autoradiograms were quantified by densitometry of three independent experiments, and standard deviations were determined.
|
Mnk1 but not 100K protein interacts with the eIF4F complex in an RNA-dependent manner. Studies were performed to determine the state of eIF4GI when targeted by 100K protein and whether it is part of translationally active cap-initiation complexes bound to mRNA, whether it is recycling between initiation events (mRNA free), or both. 293T cells were transfected with plasmids expressing GST or GST-Mnk1 proteins, equal amounts of cell lysates were treated or not treated with RNase A under conditions that abolish RNA-protein interactions (3, 23), and GST-Mnk1 protein was recovered by glutathione-Sepharose chromatography. Recovered proteins were resolved by SDS-10% PAGE and identified by immunoblotting with antibodies to GST, eIF4E, eIF4G, and eIF4A (Fig. 7A). Surprisingly, RNase treatment resulted in loss of Mnk1 from eIF4G and the eIF4F complex (eIF4E and eIF4A) (Fig. 7A). These results indicate that Mnk1 association with eIF4F is strongly dependent on mRNA association. RNA dependence for Mnk1 interaction with eIF4G has not been previously investigated. Immunoprecipitation of eIF4G (Fig. 7B) confirmed the loss of Mnk1 association after RNase treatment, whereas there was only a slight decrease in eIF4A levels and a 25 to 50% decrease in eIF4E levels after RNase treatment. The greater decrease in eIF4E than in eIF4A levels with RNase treatment might reflect eIF4G-independent binding by eIF4E to the cap structure on mRNA or perhaps a reduced stability of eIF4E/eIF4G complexes in the absence of RNA. These results indicate that Mnk1 association with eIF4G is strongly mRNA dependent and that Mnk1 likely joins the eIF4F complex following its assembly on mRNA. In contrast, 100K protein remained associated with eIF4GI despite degradation of RNA (Fig. 7C). 100K protein, therefore, interacts with eIF4G regardless of its involvement in translation initiation. It is possible that binding of eIF4G to RNA induces a conformational change required for binding by Mnk1 but not 100K and that 100K competes for the Mnk1-binding site on eIF4G during turnover and reassembly of eIF4F on mRNA.
![]() View larger version (37K): [in a new window] |
FIG. 7. RNA dependence for Mnk1 but not 100K interaction with eIF4F complexes. (A) 293T cells were transfected with plasmids expressing GST or GST-Mnk1 proteins, cellular lysates were prepared 36 h posttransfection, and GST fusion proteins were recovered by glutathione-Sepharose chromatography with or without prior digestion by RNase A (100 µg/ml for 2 h). Mnk1-associated proteins were resolved by SDS-10% PAGE and identified by immunoblot analysis with antibodies to eIF4G, eIF4E, eIF4A, and GST(-Mnk1) polypeptides. Original levels of proteins are shown in the right panels. (B) As in panel A but proteins were recovered by immunoprecipitation of eIF4G and subjected to immunoblot detection of eIF4G, GST(-Mnk1), eIF4A, and eIF4E. (C) Cells were transfected with Flag or Flag-100K protein and treated with RNase as described above, and immunoprecipitation of eIF4G was carried out. Associated proteins were resolved by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted for eIF4G and Flag-100K protein. Autoradiograms were quantified by densitometry of three independent studies, and standard deviations were determined.
|
|
|
|---|
We mapped the eIF4G-binding site for 100K protein to a 66-amino-acid peptide between residues 280 and 345 (Fig. 2 and 3). There are no known protein-protein interaction motifs in this sequence, but both human and mouse Mnk1 sequences share a homology with 100K protein in this same region (Fig. 4A), which includes the region of Mnk1 thought to be essential for its binding to eIF4G (49). We demonstrated that this basic amino acid region is required for Mnk1 interaction with eIF4G, in agreement with other reports (37) (Fig. 4B), and comprises part of the 100K-binding element for eIF4G. Additional residues within the 66-amino-acid peptide of 100K protein likely contribute to its stronger binding to eIF4G (Fig. 4C).
By overexpression of either the wild-type or RRK-to-AAA mutant 66-amino-acid peptide of 100K protein, we showed that the binding of 100K protein to eIF4G is required and sufficient for dissociation of Mnk1 from eIF4G (Fig. 5). We suspect that Mnk1 displacement from eIF4G by 100K takes place by virtue of the stronger binding by 100K, substantiated by its resistance to salt dissociation (Fig. 4C). The stronger binding of 100K to eIF4G (Fig. 7) likely blocks rebinding of Mnk1 to eIF4G when complexes reassemble on mRNA. This might also reflect a requirement for an RNA-induced conformational change in eIF4G that promotes Mnk1 binding but is not necessary for 100K interaction. The association of 100K with eIF4G is responsible for inhibition of eIF4E phosphorylation (Fig. 6A). Expression of the RRKA mutant peptide that very poorly binds eIF4G (Fig. 4B) does not displace Mnk1 from eIF4G and only slightly reduces eIF4E phosphorylation (Fig. 6A). In good agreement, we observed a significant decrease in reporter eIF4F-dependent mRNA translation with overexpression of the wild-type 100K peptide but not with that of the RRKA mutant peptide (Fig. 6B). In these same studies expression of 100K peptide did not impair translation of mRNAs controlled by the Ad late tripartite leader mRNA 5' noncoding region or the EMCV IRES (Fig. 6C). The only alterations of the initiation apparatus mediated by Ad are binding by 100K protein to eIF4G, displacement of Mnk1 from eIF4G, and dephosphorylation of eIF4E. A small peptide of 100K that binds eIF4G can recapitulate these events, and the peptide is unlikely to possess activities apart from eIF4G binding. We therefore propose that dephosphorylation of eIF4E is sufficient to impair cellular mRNA translation without affecting translation of Ad late viral mRNAs.
How does eIF4E phosphorylation affect cellular protein synthesis? Early studies proposed that phosphorylation of eIF4E increases its affinity for the cap structure at the 5' end of nucleus-encoded mRNAs (26). Based on the crystal structure of murine eIF4E bound to 7-methyl-GDP, it was speculated that phosphorylation of eIF4E at Ser209 (the major phosphorylation site of Mnk) allows formation of a salt bridge with Lys159, which might clamp eIF4E onto the capped mRNA, increasing its affinity for the cap structure (25). However, more recent crystallographic studies (31, 45, 46) revealed that Lys159 is 19 Å away from Ser209, which is too far for formation of a salt bridge between Ser209(P) and Lys159. Instead, it was proposed that phosphorylation of eIF4E enhances its affinity for the cap structure by narrowing the size of the cap-binding entrance once the cap structure is located at the cap-binding pocket (46). Recent studies (54) suggest that phosphorylation of eIF4E at Ser209 reduces its affinity for the cap by electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged residues of eIF4E and the cap: the phosphate group at Ser209 of eIF4E and the 5'-to-5' phosphate chain of the cap. This prediction is consistent with recent biophysical studies (39). These studies observed that phosphorylation of eIF4E reduced its affinity for capped RNA, due to an increased rate of dissociation. Based on these data, a model was proposed for translation initiation in which eIF4E would bind the cap structure of the mRNA, which could be stabilized by its interaction with eIF4G. Association of eIF4G and eIF3 would allow loading of the 43S ribosomal complex to the 5' end of the mRNA, although the order in which these components are assembled is not clear. Once the 48S complex forms on the mRNA (40S ribosome, eIF4F, mRNA), eIF4E would be phosphorylated by Mnk1, facilitating the release of eIF4F from the cap structure and allowing scanning. Thus, new initiation complexes could be formed on the free cap structure, facilitating a faster loading of ribosomes on the mRNA, thereby increasing the translation rate (38). An alternate mechanism proposes that phosphorylation of eIF4E might release initiation factors from existing translational complexes, allowing translation of underrepresented mRNAs (27, 39).
Once in the cytoplasm, late Ad mRNAs are preferentially loaded onto the translational machinery by the association of 100K protein with the C terminus of eIF4G (4) and possibly through its interaction with Ad mRNAs. Since translation of tripartite leader-containing mRNAs requires intact eIF4F in vitro (44), we propose that either free eIF4E or eIF4E associated with eIF4G-100K could bind the cap structure present at the 5' end of late Ad mRNAs and stabilize the mRNA-eIF4F complex. This would allow loading of 43S ribosome complexes onto the mRNA through the interaction of eIF3 and eIF4G. As eIF4E would not be phosphorylated due to the presence of 100K protein on eIF4G instead of Mnk1, the 48S ribosomal complex would not be released from the cap structure as rapidly as that of phosphorylated eIF4E. However, the tripartite leader 5' UTR on all late viral mRNAs directs translation by ribosome shunting (51, 52), which involves direct translocation of ribosomal complexes from the cap to shunting elements within the 5' UTR that contain sequences complementary to the 3' end of 18S rRNA, possibly providing a 40S ribosome docking site. A second translocation event directs the 40S ribosome to the downstream AUG. Supporting this model, we have observed considerably more eIF4E, but not other initiation factors, associated with polyribosomes in cells expressing 100K protein (Q. Xi, R. Cuesta, and R. J. Schneider, unpublished results). This suggests that phosphorylation of eIF4E could favor the release of eIF4E from the cap structure and migration of 48S ribosomal complexes into the mRNA.
This work was supported by NIH grant CA 42357 (to R.J.S.) and in part by a fellowship from Fundacion Ramon Areces, Spain (to R.C.).
Present address: Centre de Regulacio Genomica, Passeig Maritim, 37-49, Planta 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. ![]()
|
|
|---|
This article has been cited by other articles:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology. For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»