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Diphthamide - a conserved modification of eEF2 with clinical relevance.

Raffael Schaffrath¹, Ulrich Brinkmann²

¹Institut für Biologie, Fachgebiet Mikrobiologie, Universität Kassel, Kassel, Germany.

Trends in Molecular Medicine

|December 14, 2023

Summary

Diphthamide, a crucial translation factor modification, ensures reading-frame accuracy. Its roles extend beyond bacteria to human development, cancer, and viral infections like SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords:

cancer development diphthamide modification elongation factor 2 infectious and rare diseases mRNA translation

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Biochemistry
Genetics

Background:

Diphthamide is a unique post-translational modification of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2).
This modification is essential for maintaining translational fidelity and is conserved across eukaryotes and archaea.
Initially known as the target of diphtheria toxin (DT), its significance is now recognized in broader biological contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the synthesis, function, and clinical relevance of diphthamide.
To explore the association of diphthamide synthesis enzymes with cancer and genetic disorders.
To investigate the role of diphthamide in viral restriction, including SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1.

Main Methods:

Literature review of existing research on diphthamide synthesis and function.
Analysis of studies linking diphthamide synthesis enzymes (DPH1, DPH3) to cancer and diphthamide deficiency syndrome (DDS).
Examination of recent findings on diphthamide's role in viral propagation and host-pathogen interactions.

Main Results:

Diphthamide synthesis and function are conserved in eukaryotes and archaea, ensuring translation accuracy.
Diphthamide synthesis enzymes are implicated in cancer development and mutations cause diphthamide deficiency syndrome.
Diphthamide acts as a restriction factor against viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1, which target its synthesis enzymes for degradation.

Conclusions:

Diphthamide is a critical factor in translation with implications extending to human health.
Understanding diphthamide's roles in cancer and viral infections offers potential therapeutic avenues.
Further research into diphthamide biology is crucial for addressing diverse clinical challenges.