LepA [EF4 (elongation factor 4)] is a highly conserved protein found in nearly all known genomes. EF4 triggers back-translocation of the elongating ribosome, causing the translation machinery to move one codon backwards along the mRNA. Knockout of the corresponding gene in various bacteria results in different phenotypes; however, the physiological function of the factor in vivo is unclear. Although functional research on Guf1 (GTPase of unknown function 1), the eukaryotic homologue of EF4, showed that it plays a critical role under suboptimal translation conditions in vivo, its detailed mechanism has yet to be identified. In the present review we briefly cover recent advances in our understanding of EF4, including in vitro structural and biochemical studies, and research on its physiological role in vivo. Lastly, we present a hypothesis for back-translocation and discuss the directions future EF4 research should focus on.
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Review Article|
May 10 2013
The paradox of elongation factor 4: highly conserved, yet of no physiological significance?
Dejiu Zhang;
Dejiu Zhang
1Laboratory of Noncoding RNA, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
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Yan Qin
Yan Qin
1
1Laboratory of Noncoding RNA, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email qiny@ibp.ac.cn).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
December 03 2012
Revision Received:
February 05 2013
Accepted:
February 06 2013
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2013 Biochemical Society
2013
Biochem J (2013) 452 (2): 173–181.
Article history
Received:
December 03 2012
Revision Received:
February 05 2013
Accepted:
February 06 2013
Citation
Dejiu Zhang, Yan Qin; The paradox of elongation factor 4: highly conserved, yet of no physiological significance?. Biochem J 1 June 2013; 452 (2): 173–181. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BJ20121792
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