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Abstract: Although some data link archaeal and eukaryotic translation, the overall mechanism of protein synthesis in archaea remains largely obscure. Both archaeal (aRF1) and eukaryotic (eRF1) single release factors recognize all three stop codons. The archaeal genus Methanosarcinaceae contains two aRF1 homologs, and also uses the UAG stop to encode the 22nd amino acid, pyrrolysine. Here we provide an analysis of the last stage of archaeal translation in pyrrolysine-utilizing species. We demonstrated that only one of two Methanosarcina barkeri aRF1 homologs possesses activity and recognizes all three stop codons. The second aRF1 homolog may have another unknown function. The mechanism of pyrrolysine incorporation in the Methanosarcinaceae is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a cellular surveillance pathway that recognizes and degrades mRNAs with premature termination codons (PTCs). The mechanisms underlying translation termination are key to the understanding of RNA surveillance mechanisms such as NMD and crucial for the development of therapeutic strategies for NMD-related diseases. Here, we have used a fully reconstituted in vitro translation system to probe the NMD proteins for interaction with the termination apparatus. We discovered that UPF3B (i) interacts with the release factors, (ii) delays translation termination and (iii) dissociates post-termination ribosomal complexes that are devoid of the nascent peptide. Furthermore, we identified UPF1 and ribosomes as new interaction partners of UPF3B. These previously unknown functions of UPF3B during the early and late phases of translation termination suggest that UPF3B is involved in the crosstalk between the NMD machinery and the PTC-bound ribosome, a central mechanistic step of RNA surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the structures of two complexes of 5 S rRNA with homologous ribosomal proteins, Escherichia coli L25 and Thermus thermophilus TL5, revealed that amino acid residues interacting with RNA can be divided into two different groups. The first group consists of non-conserved residues, which form intermolecular hydrogen bonds accessible to solvent. The second group, comprised of strongly conserved residues, form intermolecular hydrogen bonds that are shielded from solvent. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce mutations into the RNA-binding site of protein TL5. We found that replacement of residues of the first group does not influence the stability of the TL5·5 S rRNA complex, whereas replacement of residues of the second group leads to destabilization or disruption of the complex. Stereochemical analysis shows that the replacements of residues of the second group always create complexes with uncompensated losses of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. We suggest that these shielded intermolecular hydrogen bonds are responsible for the recognition between the protein and RNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]