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W Zeidler

Publications and source records attributed to W Zeidler.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Limited proteolysis and amino acid replacements in the effector region of Thermus thermophilus elongation factor Tu.

The effector region of the elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) from Thermus thermophilus was modified by limited proteolysis or via site-directed mutagenesis. The biochemical properties of the obtained EF-Tu variants were investigated with respect to partial reactions of the functional cycle of EF-Tu. EF-Tu that was cleaved at the Arg59-Gly60 peptide bond [EF-Tu-(1-59)/EF-Tu-(60-405)] bound GDP, EF-Ts and aminoacyl-tRNA, had normal intrinsic GTPase activity and was active in poly(U)-dependent poly(Phe) synthesis. However, the GTPase activity of EF-Tu-(1-59)/EF-Tu-(60-405) was not stimulated by T. thermophilus 70S ribosomes, and its GTP-dissociation rate was increased compared with that of intact EF-Tu. EF-Tu cleaved at the Lys52-Ala53 peptide bond has properties similar to EF-Tu-(1-59)/EF-Tu-(60-405). By means of site-directed mutagenesis, Glu55 was replaced by Leu, Glu56 by Ala and Arg59 by Thr in T. thermophilus EF-Tu. These amino acid substitutions did not substantially affect either the affinity of EF-Tu. GTP for aminoacyl-tRNA or the interactions with GDP, GTP or EF-Ts. Similarly the intrinsic GTPase activity is not influenced. Replacement of Glu56 by Ala led to strong reduction in the ribosome-induced GTPase activity. This effect is specific since replacement of the neighbouring Glu55 by Leu did not affect the ribosome-induced GTPase activity. The results demonstrate that the structure of the effector region of EF-Tu in the vicinity of Arg59 is important for the control of the GTPase activity by ribosomes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Site-directed mutagenesis of Thermus thermophilus elongation factor Tu. Replacement of His85, Asp81 and Arg300.

His85 in Thermus thermophilus elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) was replaced by glutamine, leucine and glycine residues, leading to [H85Q]EF-Tu, [H85L] EF-Tu and [H85G]EF-Tu, respectively. Asp81 was replaced by alanine leading to [D81A]EF-Tu, and replacement of Arg300 provided [R300I]EF-Tu. Glycine in position 85 of domain I induces a protease-sensitive site in domain II and causes complete protein degradation in vivo. A similar effect was observed when Asp81 was replaced by alanine or Arg300 by isoleucine. Degradation is probably due to disturbed interactions between the domains of EF-Tu.GTP, inducing a protease-sensitive cleavage site in domain II. [H85Q]EF-Tu, which can be effectively overproduced in Escherichia coli, is slower in poly(U)-dependent poly(Phe) synthesis, has lower affinity to aminoacyl-tRNA but shows only a slightly reduced rate of intrinsic GTP hydrolysis compared to the native protein. The GTPase of this protein variant is not efficiently stimulated by aminoacyl-tRNA and ribosomes. The slow GTPase of [H85Q]EF-Tu increases the fidelity of translation as measured by leucine incorporation into poly(Phe) in in vitro poly(U)-dependent ribosomal translation. Replacement of His85 in T. thermophilus EF-Tu by leucine completely deactivates the GTPase activity but does not substantially influence the aminoacyl-tRNA binding. [H85L]EF-Tu is inactive in poly(U)-dependent poly(Phe)-synthesis. The rate of nucleotide dissociation is highest for [H85L]EF-Tu, followed by [H85Q]EF-Tu and native T. thermophilus EF-Tu. Mutation of His85, a residue which is not directly involved in the nucleotide binding, thus influences the interaction of EF-Tu domains, nucleotide binding and the efficiency and rate of GTPase activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effector region of the translation elongation factor EF-Tu.GTP complex stabilizes an orthoester acid intermediate structure of aminoacyl-tRNA in a ternary complex.

tRNA(Val) from Escherichia coli was aminoacylated with [1-13C]valine and its complex with Thermus thermophilus elongation factor EF-Tu.GTP was analyzed by 13C NMR spectroscopy. The results suggest that the aminoacyl residue of the valyl-tRNA in ternary complex with bacterial EF-Tu and GTP is not attached to tRNA by a regular ester bond to either a 2'- or 3'-hydroxyl group; instead, an intermediate orthoester acid structure with covalent linkage to both vicinal hydroxyls of the terminal adenosine-76 is formed. Mutation of arginine-59 located in the effector region of EF-Tu, a conserved residue in protein elongation factors and the alpha subunits of heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins), abolishes the stabilization of the orthoester acid structure of aminoacyl-tRNA.

Binding Sites↗

Participation of the overproduced elongation factor Tu from Thermus thermophilus in protein biosynthesis of Escherichia coli.

The influence of the overproduced elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) from Thermus thermophilus on the protein biosynthesis in Escherichia coli was investigated both in vivo and in vitro. A kirromycin-resistant E. coli strain became sensitive to this antibiotic upon the expression of the tuf A-gene of T. thermophilus present on a plasmid. In in vitro translation with components of the kirromycin-resistant E. coli strain the poly(Phe) synthesis stopped when minute amounts of the EF-Tu from T. thermophilus were added. Both results indicate the sensitivity of the T. thermophilus EF-Tu to kirromycin and its participation in the polypeptide synthesis of E. coli.

Bacterial Proteins↗