title: Crystal structure of the archaeal translation initiation factor 2 in complex with a GTP analogue and Met-tRNAf(Met.).
abstract: Heterotrimeric aIF2αβγ (archaeal homologue of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2) in its GTP-bound form delivers Met-tRNAi(Met) to the small ribosomal subunit. It is known that the heterodimer containing the GTP-bound γ subunit and domain 3 of the α subunit of aIF2 is required for the formation of a stable complex with Met-tRNAi. Here, the crystal structure of an incomplete ternary complex including aIF2αD3γ⋅GDPNP⋅Met-tRNAf(Met) has been solved at 3.2Å resolution. This structure is in good agreement with biochemical and hydroxyl radical probing data. The analysis of the complex shows that despite the structural similarity of aIF2γ and the bacterial translation elongation factor EF-Tu, their modes of tRNA binding are very different. Remarkably, the recently published 5.0-Å-resolution structure of almost the same ternary initiation complex differs dramatically from the structure presented. Reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stolboushkina
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nikonov
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zelinskaya
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arkhipova
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nikulin
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garber
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nikonov
mesh_terms: D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001665:Binding Sites; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry; D010444:Peptide Elongation Factor Tu / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors / Q000737:chemistry*; D012358:RNA, Transfer, Met / Q000737:chemistry*; D048229:Sulfolobus solfataricus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; C503923:GDPNP compound; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors; D012358:RNA, Transfer, Met; C116557:initiation factor 2, archaeal; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D010444:Peptide Elongation Factor Tu