Human eIF5 and eIF1A Compete for Binding to eIF5B

Eukaryotic translation initiation is a multistep process requiring a number of eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs). Two GTPases play key roles in the process. eIF2 brings the initiator Met-tRNAi to the preinitiation complex (PIC). Upon start codon selection and GTP hydrolysis promoted by the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) eIF5, eIF2-GDP is displaced from Met-tRNAi by eIF5B-GTP and is released in complex with eIF5. eIF5B promotes ribosomal subunit joining, with the help of eIF1A. Upon subunit joining, eIF5B hydrolyzes GTP and is released together with eIF1A. We found that human eIF5 interacts with eIF5B and may help recruit eIF5B to the PIC. An eIF5B-binding motif was identified at the C-terminus of eIF5, similar to that found in eIF1A. Indeed, eIF5 competes with eIF1A for binding and has an ∼100-fold higher affinity for eIF5B. Because eIF5 is the GAP of eIF2, the newly discovered interaction offers a possible mechanism for coordination between the two steps in translation initiation controlled by GTPases: start codon selection and ribosomal subunit joining. Our results indicate that in humans, eIF5B displacing eIF2 from Met-tRNAi upon subunit joining may be coupled to eIF1A displacing eIF5 from eIF5B, allowing the eIF5:eIF2-GDP complex to leave the ribosome.