title: Structural requirements for the specific recognition of an m7G mRNA cap.
abstract: 7-Methylguanosine (m(7)G), also known as the mRNA "cap", is used as a molecular tag in eukaryotic cells to mark the 5' end of messenger RNAs. The mRNA cap is required for several key events in gene expression in which the m(7)G moiety is specifically recognized by cellular proteins. The configurations of the m(7)G-binding pockets of a cellular (eIF4E) and a viral (VP39) cap-binding protein have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The binding energy has been hypothesized to result from a pi-pi stacking interaction between aromatic residues sandwiching the m(7)G base in addition to hydrogen bonds between the base and acidic protein side chains. To further understand the structural requirements for the specific recognition of an m(7)G mRNA cap, we determined the effects of amino acid substitutions in eIF4E and VP39 cap-binding sites on their affinity for m(7)GDP. The requirements for residues suggested to pi-pi stack and hydrogen bond with the m(7)G base were examined in each protein by measuring their affinities for m(7)GDP by fluorimetry. The results suggest that both eIF4E and VP39 require a complicated pattern of both orientation and identity of the stacking aromatic residues to permit the selective binding of m(7)GDP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hodel
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hagedorn
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hodel
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; D005415:Flavins / Q000737:chemistry; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D006151:Guanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000235:genetics; D012315:RNA Caps / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D055672:Static Electricity; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000235:genetics; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000235:genetics; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; D005415:Flavins; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors; D012315:RNA Caps; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C088682:VP39 protein, Vaccinia virus; D014764:Viral Proteins; D006151:Guanosine; C016578:7-methylguanosine; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D014443:Tyrosine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D014364:Tryptophan