Competition and cooperation amongst yeast elongation factors

Elongation factor 3 (EF-3) is an essential requirement for translation in fungi. We previously reported activation of EF-3-ATPase by yeast ribosomes. EF-3 interacts with both ribosomal subunits and shows high affinity for 60S subparticles. Translational inhibitors alpha-sarcin, ricin and auto-immune antibodies to GTPase-activation center inhibit binding of EF-2 but not of EF-3 to yeast ribosomes. EF-2 competes with EF-3 for the ribosomal binding sites and inhibits EF-3-ATPase activity. Neomycin relieves the inhibitory effect of EF-2 on EF-3 function. The apparent competition between EF-2 and EF-3 may represent binding of these two proteins to specific conformational states of the ribosome. EF-3 stimulates ternary complex binding to yeast ribosomes. Neither the binding of EF-3 to ribosomes, nor the ribosome-dependent EF-3-ATPase activity are influenced by EF-1 alpha. Three lines of experimental evidence suggest a direct interaction between EF-1 alpha and EF-3. A polyclonal antibody to EF-3 immunoprecipitates EF-1 alpha along with EF-3. EF-1 alpha co-migrates with GST-EF-3 on glutathione-Sepharose columns. ELISA tests demonstrate an interference of EF-3/anti-EF-3 interaction by EF-1 alpha but not by EF-2. These results strongly suggest that the stimulatory effect of EF-3 on the ternary complex binding to yeast ribosomes involves a direct interaction between EF-1 alpha and EF-3.