5iqr | pdb_00005iqr
Structure of RelA bound to the 70S ribosome
Structural highlights
FunctionRL4_ECOLI One of the primary rRNA binding proteins, this protein initially binds near the 5'-end of the 23S rRNA. It is important during the early stages of 50S assembly. It makes multiple contacts with different domains of the 23S rRNA in the assembled 50S subunit and ribosome.[1] Protein L4 is a both a transcriptional repressor and a translational repressor protein; these two functions are independent of each other. It regulates transcription of the S10 operon (to which L4 belongs) by causing premature termination of transcription within the S10 leader; termination absolutely requires the NusA protein. L4 controls the translation of the S10 operon by binding to its mRNA. The regions of L4 that control regulation (residues 131-210) are different from those required for ribosome assembly (residues 89-103).[2] Forms part of the polypeptide exit tunnel.[3] Can regulate expression from Citrobacter freundii, Haemophilus influenzae, Morganella morganii, Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia marcescens, Vibrio cholerae and Yersinia enterocolitica (but not Pseudomonas aeruginosa) S10 leaders in vitro.[4] Publication Abstract from PubMedIn order to survive, bacteria continually sense, and respond to, environmental fluctuations. Stringent control represents a key bacterial stress response to nutrient starvation that leads to rapid and comprehensive reprogramming of metabolic and transcriptional patterns. In general, transcription of genes for growth and proliferation is downregulated, while those important for survival and virulence are upregulated. Amino acid starvation is sensed by depletion of the aminoacylated tRNA pools, and this results in accumulation of ribosomes stalled with non-aminoacylated (uncharged) tRNA in the ribosomal A site. RelA is recruited to stalled ribosomes and activated to synthesize a hyperphosphorylated guanosine analogue, (p)ppGpp, which acts as a pleiotropic secondary messenger. However, structural information about how RelA recognizes stalled ribosomes and discriminates against aminoacylated tRNAs is missing. Here we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of RelA bound to the bacterial ribosome stalled with uncharged tRNA. The structure reveals that RelA utilizes a distinct binding site compared to the translational factors, with a multi-domain architecture that wraps around a highly distorted A-site tRNA. The TGS (ThrRS, GTPase and SpoT) domain of RelA binds the CCA tail to orient the free 3' hydroxyl group of the terminal adenosine towards a beta-strand, such that an aminoacylated tRNA at this position would be sterically precluded. The structure supports a model in which association of RelA with the ribosome suppresses auto-inhibition to activate synthesis of (p)ppGpp and initiate the stringent response. Since stringent control is responsible for the survival of pathogenic bacteria under stress conditions, and contributes to chronic infections and antibiotic tolerance, RelA represents a good target for the development of novel antibacterial therapeutics. Ribosome-dependent activation of stringent control.,Brown A, Fernandez IS, Gordiyenko Y, Ramakrishnan V Nature. 2016 May 9;534(7606):277-80. doi: 10.1038/nature17675. PMID:27279228[5] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. See AlsoReferences
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