SUMMARY Recognition of the proper start codon on mRNAs is essential for protein synthesis, which requires scanning and involves eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) eIF1, eIF1A, eIF2 and eIF5. The carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of eIF5 stimulates 43S preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly; however, its precise role in scanning and start codon selection has remained unknown. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we identified the binding sites of eIF1 and eIF2β on eIF5-CTD and find that they are partially overlapped. Mutating select eIF5 residues in the common interface specifically disrupts interaction with both factors. By abrogating eIF5-CTD binding to eIF2β, genetic and biochemical evidence indicate that these eIF5-CTD mutations impair start codon recognition and impede eIF1 release from the PIC. This study provides mechanistic insight into the novel role of eIF5-CTD’s dynamic interplay with eIF1 and eIF2β in switching PICs from an open to closed state at start codons.

The human Activator-Recruited Cofactor (ARC)/Mediator co-activator complex interacts with many transcriptional activators and facilitates recruitment of RNA polymerase II to promote target gene transcription. The MED25 (ARC92) subunit is a critical target of the potent Herpes simplex 1 viral transcriptional activator VP16. Here, we determine the solution structure of the MED25 VP16-binding domain (VBD), and define its binding site for the N-terminal portion of the VP16 transactivation domain (TADn). A hydrophobic furrow, formed by a β-barrel and two α-helices in MED25 VBD, interacts tightly with VP16 TADn. Mutations in this furrow prevent binding of VP16 TAD to MED25 VBD and interfere with the ability of over-expressed MED25 VBD to inhibit VP16-dependent transcriptional activation in vivo. This detailed molecular understanding of transactivation by the benchmark activator VP16 could provide important insights into viral and cellular gene activation mechanisms.

The origin of the odd-even effect in properties of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and/or technologies derived from them is poorly understood. We report that hydrophobicity and, hence, surface wetting of SAMs are dominated by the nature of the substrate (surface roughness and identity) and SAM tilt angle, which influences surface dipoles/orientation of the terminal moiety. We measured static contact angles (θs) made by water droplets on n-alkanethiolate SAMs with an odd (SAM(O)) or even (SAM(E)) number of carbons (average θs range of 105.8-112.1°). When SAMs were fabricated on smooth "template-stripped" metal (M(TS)) surfaces [root-mean-square (rms) roughness = 0.36 ± 0.01 nm for Au(TS) and 0.60 ± 0.04 nm for Ag(TS)], the odd-even effect, characterized by a zigzag oscillation in values of θs, was observed. We, however, did not observe the same effect with rougher "as-deposited" (M(AD)) surfaces (rms roughness = 2.27 ± 0.16 nm for Au(AD) and 5.13 ± 0.22 nm for Ag(AD)). The odd-even effect in hydrophobicity inverts when the substrate changes from Au(TS) (higher θs for SAM(E) than SAM(O), with average Δθs |n - (n + 1)| ≈ 3°) to Ag(TS) (higher θs for SAM(O) than SAM(E), with average Δθs |n - (n + 1)| ≈ 2°). A comparison of hydrophobicity across Ag(TS) and Au(TS) showed a statistically significant difference (Student's t test) between SAM(E) (Δθs |Ag evens - Au evens| ≈ 5°; p < 0.01) but failed to show statistically significant differences on SAM(O) (Δθs |Ag odds - Au odds| ≈ 1°; p > 0.1). From these results, we deduce that the roughness of the metal substrate (from comparison of M(AD) versus M(TS)) and orientation of the terminal -CH2CH3 (by comparing SAM(E) and SAM(O) on Au(TS) versus Ag(TS)) play major roles in the hydrophobicity and, by extension, general wetting properties of n-alkanethiolate SAMs.

Significance Tumor metastasis is the major cause of cancer lethality, whereas the underlying mechanisms are obscure. Breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) are essential for breast cancer relapse and metastasis and stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1)/chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a key regulator of tumor dissemination. We report a large-scale quantification of SDF-1/CXCR4–induced phosphoproteome events and identify several previously unidentified phosphoproteins and signaling pathways in breast CSCs. This study provides insights into the understanding of the mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis.