title: The translation initiation factor eIF-4B contains an RNA-binding region that is distinct and independent from its ribonucleoprotein consensus sequence.
abstract: eIF-4B is a eukaryotic translation initiation factor that is required for the binding of ribosomes to mRNAs and the stimulation of the helicase activity of eIF-4A. It is an RNA-binding protein that contains a ribonucleoprotein consensus sequence (RNP-CS)/RNA recognition motif (RRM). We examined the effects of deletions and point mutations on the ability of eIF-4B to bind a random RNA, to cooperate with eIF-4A in RNA binding, and to enhance the helicase activity of eIF-4A. We report here that the RNP-CS/RRM alone is not sufficient for eIF-4B binding to RNA and that an RNA-binding region, located between amino acids 367 and 423, is the major contributor to RNA binding. Deletions which remove this region abolish the ability of eIF-4B to cooperate with eIF-4A in RNA binding and the ability to stimulate the helicase activity of eIF-4A. Point mutations in the RNP-CS/RRM had no effect on the ability of eIF-4B to cooperate with eIF-4A in RNA binding but significantly reduced the stimulation of eIF-4A helicase activity. Our results indicate that the carboxy-terminal RNA-binding region of eIF-4B is essential for eIF-4B function and is distinct from the RNP-CS/RRM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Méthot
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pause
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hershey
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sonenberg
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004926:Escherichia coli; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017354:Point Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; C031799:eIF-4B; D005982:Glutathione Transferase