title: Homologous segments in three subunits of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor eIF2B mediate translational regulation by phosphorylation of eIF2.
abstract: eIF2B is a five-subunit guanine nucleotide exchange factor that is negatively regulated by phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of its substrate, eIF2, leading to inhibition of translation initiation. To analyze this regulatory mechanism, we have characterized 29 novel mutations in the homologous eIF2B subunits encoded by GCD2, GCD7, and GCN3 that reduce or abolish inhibition of eIF2B activity by eIF2 phosphorylated on its alpha subunit [eIF2(alphaP)]. Most, if not all, of the mutations decrease sensitivity to eIF2(alphaP) without excluding GCN3, the nonessential subunit, from eIF2B; thus, all three proteins are critical for regulation of eIF2B by eIF2(alphaP). The mutations are clustered at both ends of the homologous region of each subunit, within two segments each of approximately 70 amino acids in length. Several mutations alter residues at equivalent positions in two or all three subunits. These results imply that structurally similar segments in GCD2, GCD7, and GCN3 perform related functions in eIF2B regulation. We propose that these segments form a single domain in eIF2B that makes multiple contacts with the alpha subunit of eIF2, around the phosphorylation site, allowing eIF2B to detect and respond to phosphoserine at residue 51. Most of the eIF2 is phosphorylated in certain mutants, suggesting that these substitutions allow eIF2B to accept phosphorylated eIF2 as a substrate for nucleotide exchange.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Pavitt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hinnebusch
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020717:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2B; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013489:Suppression, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2; D020717:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2B; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C068999:GCD2 protein, S cerevisiae; C079878:GCD6 protein, S cerevisiae; C079879:GCD7 protein, S cerevisiae; C501390:GCN3 protein, S cerevisiae; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D011506:Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases