Affiliation:
1. School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Even though elongation factor 4 (EF4) is the third most conserved protein in bacteria, its physiological functions remain largely unknown and its proposed molecular mechanisms are conflicting among previous studies. In the present study, we show that the growth of an
Escherichia coli
strain is more susceptible to tetracycline than its EF4 knockout strain. Consistent with previous studies, our results suggested that EF4 affects ribosome biogenesis when tetracycline is present. Through ribosome profiling analysis, we discovered that EF4 causes 1-nucleotide shifting of ribosomal footprints on mRNA when cells have been exposed to tetracycline. In addition, when tetracycline is present, EF4 inhibits the elongation of protein synthesis, which leads to the accumulation of ribosomes in the early segment of mRNA. Altogether, when cells are exposed to tetracycline, EF4 alters both ribosome biogenesis and the elongation phase of protein synthesis.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Pharmacology (medical),Pharmacology