Translation Initiation Factor EIF-2. Cloning and Expression of the Human CDNA Encoding the Gamma-Subunit.

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Biological Chemistry

Publication Date

2-4-1994

Abstract

Translation initiation factor eIF-2 is a heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein involved in the recruitment of methionyl-tRNA, to the 40 S ribosomal subunit. To complete our characterization of eIF-2, we cloned and characterized a human cDNA encoding the largest subunit, eIF-2 gamma. From limited peptide sequence data, degenerate oligo-nucleotide primers were designed to amplify a 118-base pair DNA fragment from a cDNA library. This fragment was used as a probe to screen for larger cDNAs and eventually a clone containing the complete eIF-2 gamma coding region (1416 base pairs) was identified. It encodes a 472-amino acid protein (51.8 kDa) and contains the three consensus GTP-binding elements. The protein shares strong homology to EF-Tu, GCD11 (the yeast homolog of eIF-2 gamma), and other EF-Tu-like proteins. Transfection of COS-1 cells with the cDNA results in overexpression of a 52-kDa protein which is specifically recognized by anti-eIF-2 gamma antibodies. Cross-linking experiments with diepoxybutane and trans-diaminedichloroplatinum(II) indicate that both the beta- and gamma-subunits of eIF-2 are in close proximity to methionyl-tRNAi in ternary complexes. Possession of the eIF-2 gamma cDNA will facilitate future investigations of the interactions of GTP and methionyl-tRNAi with eIF-2.

Comments

This article was originally published as Gaspar, N.J., Kinzy, T.G., Scherer, B.J., Humbelin, M., Hershey, J.W.B. and Merrick, W.C. (1994) Translation Initiation Factor eIF-2: Cloning and Expression of the Human cDNA Encoding the ï§-subunit, J. Biol. Chem. 269, 3415-3422. PMID: 8106381

DOI

10.1016/S0021-9258(17)41878-3

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