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Cap‐free structure of eIF4E suggests a basis for conformational regulation by its ligands
Author(s) -
Volpon Laurent,
Osborne Michael J,
Topisirovic Ivan,
Siddiqui Nadeem,
Borden Katherine LB
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601380
Subject(s) - eif4e , eif4g , biology , biophysics , binding site , protein structure , conformational change , plasma protein binding , biochemistry , translation (biology) , messenger rna , gene
The activity of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E is modulated through conformational response to its ligands. For example, eIF4G and eIF4E‐binding proteins (4E‐BPs) modulate cap affinity, and thus physiological activity of eIF4E, by binding a site distal to the 7‐methylguanosine cap‐binding site. Further, cap binding substantially modulates eIF4E's affinity for eIF4G and the 4E‐BPs. To date, only cap‐bound eIF4E structures were reported. In the absence of structural information on the apo form, the molecular underpinnings of this conformational response mechanism cannot be established. We report here the first cap‐free eIF4E structure. Apo‐eIF4E exhibits structural differences in the cap‐binding site and dorsal surface relative to cap‐eIF4E. Analysis of structure and dynamics of apo‐eIF4E, and changes observed upon ligand binding, reveal a molecular basis for eIF4E's conformational response to these ligands. In particular, alterations in the S4‐H4 loop, distal to either the cap or eIF4G binding sites, appear key to modulating these effects. Mutation in this loop mimics these effects. Overall, our studies have important implications for the regulation of eIF4E.