No abstract

Selection of the correct start codon during initiation of translation on the ribosome is a key event in protein synthesis. In eukaryotic initiation, several factors have to function in concert to ensure that the initiator tRNA finds the cognate AUG start codon during mRNA scanning. The two initiation factors eIF1 and eIF1A are known to provide important functions for the initiation process and codon selection. Here, we have used molecular dynamics free energy calculations to evaluate the energetics of initiator tRNA binding to different near-cognate codons on the yeast 40S ribosomal subunit, in the presence and absence of these two initiation factors. The results show that eIF1 and eIF1A together cause a relatively uniform and high discrimination against near-cognate codons. This works such that eIF1 boosts the discrimination against a first position near-cognate G-U mismatch, and also against a second position A-A base pair, while eIF1A mainly acts on third codon position. The computer simulations further reveal the structural basis of the increased discriminatory effect caused by binding of eIF1 and eIF1A to the 40S ribosomal subunit.

A key feature of mitochondrial translation is the reduced number of transfer RNAs and reassignment of codons. For human mitochondria, a major unresolved problem is how the set of stop codons are decoded by the release factors mtRF1a and mtRF1. Here we present threedimensional structural models of human mtRF1a and mtRF1 based on their homology to bacterial RF1 in the codon recognition domain, and the strong conservation between mitochondrial and bacterial ribosomal RNA in the decoding region. Sequence changes in the less homologous mtRF1 appear to be correlated with specific features of the mitochondrial rRNA. Extensive computer simulations of the complexes with the ribosomal decoding site show that both mitochondrial factors have similar specificities and that neither reads the putative vertebrate stop codons AGA and AGG. Instead, we present a structural model for a mechanism by which the ICT1 protein causes termination by sensing the presence of these codons in the A-site of stalled ribosomes.

The interaction between the ribosomal-stalk protein L7/12 (L12) and initiation factor 2 (IF2) is essential for rapid subunit association, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we have characterized the L12-IF2 interaction on ribosomes using site-directed mutagenesis, fast kinetics, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Fifteen individual point mutations were introduced into the C-terminal domain of L12 (L12-CTD) at helices 4 and 5, which constitute the common interaction site for translational GTPases. In parallel, 15 point mutations were also introduced into IF2 between the G4 and G5 motifs, which we hypothesized as the potential L12 interaction sites. The L12 and IF2 mutants were tested in ribosomal subunit association assay in a stopped-flow instrument. Those amino acids that caused defective subunit association upon substitution were identified as the molecular determinants of L12-IF2 interaction. Further, MD simulations of IF2 docked onto the L12-CTD pinpointed the exact interacting partners-all of which were positively charged on L12 and negatively charged on IF2, connected by salt bridges. Lastly, we tested two pairs of charge-reversed mutants of L12 and IF2, which significantly restored the yield and the rate of formation of the 70S initiation complex. We conclude that complementary charge-based interaction between L12-CTD and IF2 is the key for fast subunit association. Considering the homology of the G domain, similar mechanisms may apply for L12 interactions with other translational GTPases.

The progress of RNA research has suggested a wide variety of RNA molecules as possible targets for pharmaceutical drug molecules. Structure-based computational methods for predicting binding modes and affinities are now important tools in drug discovery, but these methods have mainly been focused on protein targets. Here we employ molecular dynamics free-energy perturbation calculations and the linear interaction energy method to analyze the energetics of ligand binding to purine riboswitches. Calculations are carried out for 14 different purine complexes with the guanine and adenine riboswitches in order to examine their ligand recognition principles. The simulations yield binding affinities in good agreement with experimental data and rationalize the selectivity of the riboswitches for different ligands. In particular, it is found that these receptors have an unusually high degree of electrostatic preorganization for their cognate ligands, and this effect is further quantified by explicit free-energy calculations, which show that the standard electrostatic linear interaction energy parametrization is suboptimal in this case. The adenine riboswitch specifically uses the electrostatic preorganization to discriminate against guanine by preventing the formation of a G-U wobble base pair.