Aminoacyl-tRNA-elongation factor Tu-ribosome interaction leading to hydrolysis of guanosine 5'-triphosphate

We investigated the elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) dependent binding of Phe-tRNA and Phe-tRNAs with the nicks at positions 46, 37, and 17 to the Escherichia coli 70S ribosome-poly(U)-tRNAPhe complex. Binding of Phe-tRNA1-45 + 47-76, Phe-tRNA1-36 + 38-76, or Phe-tRNA1-16 + 17-76 to the 70S ribosome has been found to be poly(U) X tRNA dependent and, similar to that of intact Phe-tRNA, is inhibited by the antibiotic thiostrepton. We have further found that, contrary to a previous report [Modolell, J., Cabrer, B., Parmeggiani, A., & Vazquez, D. (1971) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 68, 1796], the EF-Tu-ribosome GTPase mediated by Phe-tRNA is not inhibited by thiostrepton; rather, the drug stimulates the endogenous GTPase of the EF-Tu X 70S ribosome. Phe-tRNA fragments 47-76, 38-76, and 17-76 all promote the EF-Tu X GTPase reaction in the presence of 70S ribosome-poly(U)-tRNAPhe yeast. Moreover, since the GTPase-promoting activities of both the short and long fragments are similar, it appears that the most important aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid (aa-tRNA) interaction with EF-Tu occurs alongside its 3' quarter. Thiostrepton slightly stimulates the GTPase activity of these Phe-tRNA fragments. Although the Phe-tRNA1-36 + 38-76 cannot bind to poly(U) during its binding to 70S ribosomes, its binding at high Mg2+ concentration occurs at the A site. Thus, most of the bound modified Phe-tRNA functions as the acceptor in the peptidyltransferase reaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)