Regulation of protein synthesis: Activation by double-stranded RNA of a protein kinase that phosphorylates eukaryotic initiation factor 2

Incubation of reticulocyte lysates or isolated crude ribosomes with low levels of double-stranded RNA (0.1-10 ng/ml) induces the formation of an inhibitor of protein synthesis initiation similar to that observed in heme deficiency. The inhibitor is associated with a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase activity (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) that phosphorylates the small polypeptide (38,000 daltons) of the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF-2. Activation of the inhibitor requires ATP in addition to double-stranded RNA and is accompanied by the phosphorylation of a 67,000-dalton polypeptide of unknown function. The inhibitor remains associated with the ribosomes during high-speed sedimentation. Once formed, the ribosome-associated inhibitor phosphorylates eIF-2 and inhibits protein synthesis in the absence of double-stranded RNA. Inhibition is prevented by exogenous eIF-2. The bound inhibitor can be solubilized by extraction with 0.5 M KCl. The soluble inhibitor preparation retains the ability to phosphorylate the small polypeptide of eIF-2 and to inhibit protein synthesis. Untreated crude ribosomes also contain cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase activities that phosphorylate the middle polypeptide (49,000 daltons) of eIF-2 and several polypeptide subunits of eIF-3 (160,000, 125,000, and 65,000 daltons); these kinase activities are not affected by double-stranded RNA and do not inhibit protein synthesis.     

Characterization of a rat liver factor that inhibits initiation of protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates

Protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes and their lysates is regulated by heme. In heme-deficient reticulocyte lysates, protein synthesis proceeds at the initial rate for several minutes and then declines abruptly. Inhibition of protein synthesis is due to the activation of a heme-regulated translational inhibitor (HRI) which blocks the initiation of protein synthesis. Addition of the isolated HRI to hemin-supplemented lysates causes inhibition of initiation similar to that observed in heme-deficiency. HRI has been shown to be a protein kinase that specifically phosphorylates the Met-tRNA(f) binding factor (eIF-2). We have isolated an inhibitor (LI) of protein chain initiation from rat liver which displays properties similar to those of HRI: (i) the chromatographic behavior of LI on DEAE-Sephadex, DEAE-cellulose, and phosphocellulose is similar to that of HRI; (ii) both LI and HRI inhibit protein chain initiation in rabbit reticulocyte lysates with the same kinetics of inhibition-i.e., an initial period of synthesis for several minutes at the control rate followed by an abrupt decline in the rate of initiation; (iii) both inhibitions are prevented or reversed by eIF-2; (iv) GTP (2 mM) prevents, and ATP (2 mM) potentiates, the inhibition of protein synthesis induced by either inhibitor; (v) LI is associated with a protein kinase that also phosphorylates the 38,000-dalton subunit of elF-2. These findings indicate that a mechanism for the regulation of protein synthesis similar to that found in rabbit reticulocytes may be present in rat liver.     

Mode of action of the hemin-controlled inhibitor of protein synthesis.

Despite the finding that the hemin-controlled translational inhibitor in reticulocyte lysates is a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase that phosphorylates the small subunit of the initiation factor eIF-2, the mechanism of inhibition of translation remained unexplained. Whereas treatment of hemin-containing lysates with inhibitor in the presence of ATP inhibited translation, the same treatment of highly purified eIF-2 did not affect its ability to form a ternary complex with initiator Met-tRNA and GTP or a 40S initiation complex. We have isolated from ribosomal salt washes a protein (eIF-2 stimulating protein) that enhances the capacity of unphosphorylated eIF-2 to form ternary or 40S initiation complexes but has no effect on the phosphorylated factor. At low concentrations, eIF-2 is virtually inactive without this stimulating protein. Therefore, the translational inhibitor acts by converting eIF-2 to a form that is not stimulated by the stimulating protein.     

Protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes: characteristics of a postribosomal supernatant factor that reverses inhibition of protein synthesis in heme-deficient lysates and inhibition of ternary complex (Met-tRNAfMet.eIF-2.GTP) formation by heme-regulated inhibitor.

During heme deficiency in reticulocyte lysates, a translational inhibitor (heme-regulated inhibitor, HRI) that blocks polypeptide chain initiation is activated. HRI is a protein kinase that specifically phosphorylates the 38,000-dalton subunit of the Met-tRNAfMet binding factor, eIF-2. Phosphorylation of eIF-2 by HRI prevents its interaction with at least two additional factors, resulting in a net reduction in formation of ternary complex (Met-tRNAfMet.eIF-2.GTP) and AUG-dependent transfer of Met-tRNAfMet to 40S ribosomal subunits. A factor (sRF) that reverses protein synthesis inhibition in heme-deficient lysates has been purified from reticulocyte postribosomal supernatant. sRF also reverses the inhibition of ternary complex formation by HRI in a fractionated system. The ternary complex inhibition reversal activity and the protein synthesis inhibition reversal activity cosediment at 12.5 S upon glycerol density gradient centrifugation, and both activities are sensitive to heat or N-ethylmaleimide. Purified sRF does not dephosphorylate eIF-2 whose phosphorylation has been catalyzed by HRI, nor does the sRF prevent the phosphorylation of eIF-2 by HRI in a fractionated system. sRF stimulates ternary complex formation by both phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated eIF-2. These observations suggest that the sensitivity of protein synthesis to phosphorylation of eIF-2 by HRI may be modulated by the concentration and activity of sRF.     

Effects of skeletal muscle protein phosphatase inhibitor-2 on protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation in rabbit reticulocyte lysates

Reticulocyte lysates contain two major classes of protein phosphatase activities, designated type 1 and type 2. These designations are based on criteria derived from the analyses of protein phosphatase species in other tissues. The criteria include (i) chromatographic elution profiles on DEAE-cellulose; (ii) specificity of lysate phosphatases toward [(32)P]phosphorylase a and [(32)P]phosphorylase kinase; (iii) sensitivity of lysate phosphatases to Mg(2+) ATP; and (iv) sensitivity to the heat-stable protein phosphatase inhibitor-2. The lysate phosphatase species are similar to those described in rabbit skeletal muscle and rabbit liver. Reticulocyte protein phosphatase type 1, but not type 2, is inhibited by heat-stable protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 and -2 which have been characterized from rabbit skeletal muscle. We have initiated a study on the function and specificity of lysate protein phosphatase activities involved in the regulation of protein synthesis by examining the effects of protein phosphatase inhibitor-2 on reticulocyte protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation. Our findings are as follows. (a) Protein phosphatase inhibitor-2 inhibits protein chain initiation in hemin-supplemented lysates. (b) Inhibition is characterized by biphasic kinetics and is reversed by the delayed addition of purified reticulocyte eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). (c) Inhibition of protein synthesis by inhibitor-2 is accompanied by the phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit (38,000 daltons) of eIF-2 (eIF-2alpha) and of two heat-stable polypeptides of 29,000 and 44,000 daltons. (d) The 29,000-dalton component is phosphorylated in lysates under conditions of protein synthesis and appears to be inhibitor-2, but the physiological significance of this modification of inhibitor-2 is not clear. (e) Inhibitor-2 has no effect on the activation in vitro of isolated heme-regulated or double-stranded RNA-dependent eIF-2alpha kinases. We propose that the inhibition of protein synthesis in hemin-supplemented lysates by added inhibitor-2 is due at least in part to the inhibition of a type 1 eIF-2alpha phosphatase activity, which permits a basal eIF-2alpha kinase activity to be expressed leading to the accumulation of phosphorylated eIF-2alpha and an inhibition of protein synthesis.     

Relationship between phosphorylation and activity of heme-regulated eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha kinase.

In heme-deficient reticulocytes and their lysates, a heme-regulated inhibitor of protein synthesis is activated; this inhibitor is a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase that specifically phosphorylates the alpha subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2 alpha). Heme regulates this kinase by inhibiting its activation and activity. The purified heme-regulated kinase (HRI) undergoes autophosphorylation; at least 3 mol of phosphate can be incorporated per HRI subunit (Mr 80,000). The phosphorylation of HRI, its eIF-2 alpha kinase activity, and its ability to inhibit protein synthesis are diminished by hemin (5 microM) and increased by N-ethylmaleimide (MalNEt). Treatment of MalNEt-activated HRI with hemin reduces its autophosphorylation and its ability to inhibit protein synthesis . These findings demonstrate a correlation of the phosphorylation of HRI, its eIF-2 alpha kinase activity, and its inhibition of protein synthesis. The mechanism of hemin regulation of HRI activity was studied by examining the binding of hemin to purified HRI. Significant binding was demonstrable by difference spectroscopy which revealed a pronounced shift in the absorption spectrum of hemin with the appearance of a peak at 418 nm, a shift similar to that observed with proteins known to bind hemin. These findings are consistent with a direct effect of hemin on HRI.     

Association of a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase with a purified translational inhibitor isolated from hemin-deficient rabbit reticulocyte lysates.

In the absence of added hemin, protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates proceeds at maximal linear rates for several minutes and then ceases abruptly. Inhibition involves the action of a translational inhibitor whose formation is regulated by hemin. Addition of the isolated inhibitor to hemin-supplemented lysates produces an inhibition of protein chain initiation similar to that observed in heme-deficiency. The inhibitor has been purified over 300-fold and contains a protein kinase activity that copurifies with the inhibitory function. With calf thymus histone II as the phosphate receptor, the inhibitor-associated protein kinase requires ATP as the phosphorylating agent. Cycle AMP stimulates kinase activity 5- to 8-fold; the concentration of cycle AMP required for halfmaximal activity is 4 X 10-8 M. Preincubation of the inhibitor in the presence of cyclic AMP significantly reduces cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation and inhibitory activity. The corresponding protein kinase activity from hemin-supplemented lysates displays reduced cyclic AMP-dependency and little or no inhibitory activity. These findings suggest that the protein kinase activity associated with the purified translational inhibitor is involved in the mechanism of inhibition of initiation observed in hemedeficient reticulocyte lysates.     

Regulation of protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates: purification and characterization of heme-reversible translational inhibitor.

To define the mechanism of regulation of the protein kinase that is activated in heme deficiency and that inhibits initiation of protein synthesis, we have isolated and purified the heme-reversible form of the protein kinase from rabbit reticulocytes. The inhibitory activity is found in a single band after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions. It migrates as a 95,000-dalton polypeptide in 15% sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels. This purified inhibitor becomes self-phosphorylated in the presence of ATP; the phosphorylated protein and the inhibitory activity copurify. The inhibitor produces characteristic biphasic kinetics of inhibition in reticulocyte lysates and phosphorylates the 38,000-dalton subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2); the inhibition is reversed by added eIF-2. In contrast to the heme-irreversible inhibitor, this heme-reversible inhibitor is no longer inhibitory after incubation with 20 micron hemin. Incubation with hemin also inhibits self-phosphorylation. Preincubation of the heme-reversible inhibitor in the presence of ATP potentiates the inhibition of protein synthesis in the subsequent incubation, as does treatment with N-ethylmaleimide. Phosphorylation of the heme-reversible inhibitor and inhibition of protein synthesis in the lysate due to phosphorylation of eIF-2 appear to be related. These findings suggest that hemin acts directly on the heme-reversible inhibitor.     

In situ phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 in reticulocyte lysates inhibited by heme deficiency, double-stranded RNA, oxidized glutathione, or the heme-regulated protein kinase

Protein synthesis initiation in reticulocyte lysates is inhibited by heme deficiency, low levels of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), or the purified kinase (HRI) that acts on the alpha polypeptide of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2alpha). The phosphoprotein profiles produced in lysates in response to these various conditions have been monitored directly in lysates after labeling for brief periods with pulses of [gamma-(32)P]ATP. The [(32)P]phosphoprotein profiles were analyzed by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide slab gels under conditions in which the HRI and eIF-2alpha polypeptides were clearly distinguished. All four modes of inhibition produced a rapid phosphorylation of eIF-2alpha compared to control lysates, which displayed little or no phosphorylation of eIF-2alpha. In heme-deficient lysates, phosphorylation of eIF-2alpha occurred rapidly both before and after the shut-off of protein synthesis; the delayed addition of hemin to these lysates resulted in a decrease in the phosphorylation of eIF-2alpha and the subsequent restoration of protein synthesis. These data suggest that rapid turnover of phosphate occurs at the site(s) of eIF-2alpha phosphorylation. In lysates inhibited by heme deficiency, GSSG, or added HRI, the phosphorylation of eIF-2alpha was accompanied by the rapid in situ phosphorylation of HRI. The inhibition of initiation induced by dsRNA was accompanied by the phosphorylation of eIF-2alpha and a 67,000-dalton polypeptide but not HRI. These observations in situ indicate that (i) the phosphorylation of eIF-2alpha is the critical event in these inhibitions of protein chain initiation, and (ii) the phosphorylation of HRI is associated with its activation in heme deficiency.     

The eukaryotic initiation factor 2-associated 67-kDa polypeptide (p67) plays a critical role in regulation of protein synthesis initiation in animal cells.

The eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2)-associated 67-kDa polypeptide (p67) isolated from reticulocyte lysate protects the eIF-2 alpha subunit from eIF-2 kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation and promotes protein synthesis in the presence of active eIF-2 kinases. We have now studied the roles of p67 and eIF-2 kinases in regulation of protein synthesis using several animal cell lysates and an animal cell line (KRC-7) in culture under various growth conditions. The results are as follows. (i) Both p67 and eIF-2 kinase(s) are present in active forms in all animal cells under normal growth conditions and p67 protects the eIF-2 alpha subunit from eIF-2 kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation, thus promoting protein synthesis in the presence of active eIF-2 kinases. (ii) In heme-deficient reticulocyte lysates and in serum-starved KRC-7 cells in culture, p67 is deglycosylated and subsequently degraded. This leads to eIF-2 kinase-catalyzed eIF-2 alpha-subunit phosphorylation and thus to protein synthesis inhibition. (iii) Addition of a mitogen (namely, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) to serum-starved KRC-7 cells in culture induces an increase of p67 and thus increases protein synthesis. These results suggest the following conclusions. (i) Protein synthesis inhibition in a heme-deficient reticulocyte lysate is not due to the activation of an eIF-2 kinase (heme-regulated inhibitor), as is generally believed, but is due to degradation of p67. The heme-regulated inhibitor is present in an active form and possibly in equal amounts in both heme-deficient and heme-supplemented reticulocyte lysates but cannot phosphorylate eIF-2 alpha subunit because of the presence of p67. (ii) p67 is essential for protein synthesis as it protects the eIF-2 alpha subunit from eIF-2 kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation and promotes protein synthesis in the presence of one or more active eIF-2 kinases present in all animal cells. (iii) p67 is both degradable and inducible. Only the p67 level correlates directly with the protein synthesis activity of the cell, indicating that p67 is a critical factor in protein synthesis regulation in animal cells.     

Regulation of protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates: Additional initiation factor required for formation of ternary complex (eIF-2·GTP·Met-tRNAf) and demonstration of inhibitory effect of heme-regulated protein kinase

Heme deficiency in rabbit reticulocytes and their lysates leads to the activation of a heme-regulated translational inhibitor (HRI) which causes the cessation of polypeptide initiation. HRI is a protein kinase that specifically phosphorylates the 38,000-dalton subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). eIF-2 binds Met-tRNA(f) and GTP in ternary complex. As a continuation of the studies on the molecular basis of the inhibition of the formation of 40S ribosomal subunit-Met-tRNA(f) complexes by HRI [Ranu, R. S., London, I. M., Das, A., Dasgupta, A., Majumdar, A., Ralston, R., Roy, R. & Gupta, N. K. (1978) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75, 745-749], we describe here the isolation and some characteristics of a factor that is required for the HRI-catalyzed inhibition of eIF-2-promoted ternary complex formation. In the presence of 1 mM Mg(2+), ternary complex formation by eIF-2 is dependent on the presence of this stabilization factor (SF). Under these conditions, SF increases the rate and the extent of ternary complex formation. This finding suggests that the interaction of SF with eIF-2 causes a conformational change that stabilizes eIF-2 and promotes efficient ternary complex formation by increasing the affinity of eIF-2 for GTP and Met-tRNA(f). In the absence of Mg(2+), however, eIF-2 efficiently forms the ternary complex and SF has little effect on its ternary complex formation capacity-hence, the name eIF-2 stabilization factor (SF). In the presence of SF, HRI markedly inhibits (70-80%) the ternary complex formation capacity of eIF-2. The inhibitory effect requires both HRI and ATP. Under these conditions, HRI phosphorylates only the 38,000-dalton subunit of eIF-2. Both the rate and the extent of the SF-dependent ternary complex formation are inhibited. These findings are consistent with the idea that phosphorylation causes a conformational change in eIF-2 such that its interactions with other initiation factors in the formation and the binding of ternary complex to 40S ribosomal subunits are inhibited.     

Effect of hemin on site-specific phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2.

Initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) is phosphorylated in vitro by two different cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinases. As previously shown, a protein kinase activity that comigrates with the major casein kinase activity from rabbit reticulocytes phosphorylates eIF-2beta. In addition, a second protein kinase that specifically phosphorylates eIF-2alpha has been identified. Both protein kinase activities demonstrate cyclic nucleotide-independent activity and are not inhibited by the inhibitor protein diagnostic for cyclic AMP-regulated protein kinase activities. Phosphorylation of eIF-2alpha is almost completely inhibited by 20--35 muM hemin, whereas phosphorylation of eIF-2beta is only partially inhibited. Hemin acts by decreasing the rate of incorporation of phosphate into eIF-2alpha. The protein kinase activity that modifies eIF-2alpha has been shown to have inhibitory activity in the cell-free protein-synthesizing system, whereas the protein kinase for eIF-2beta has no effect. The identity of the former enzyme with the hemin-controlled repressor and role of hemin in the control of initiation are discussed.     

Multistep regulatory system for activation of a cyclic AMP-independent eukaryotic initiation factor 2 kinase.

Three functionally related components that block peptide initiation have been identified in lysates of rabbit reticulocytes. The components function consecutively in a cascade type sequence of reactions to cause phosphorylation of eukaryotic peptide initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). The eIF-2 kinase activated as part of this sequence has been tentatively identified as the same protein kinase that is activated by heme deficiency as part of the hemin-controlled repressor (HCR) system. The first component in the sequence is heat stable and can be reversibly activated by heat or pressure. It activates a second, heat-labile, component that in turn directly or indirectly activates the hemin-controlled eIF-2 kinase. This heat-labile component appears to function through proteolysis. This reaction sequence is not detectably affected by heme or cyclic AMP and thus appears to provide an alternative mechanism, independent of heme, for activation of the cyclic AMP-independent eIF-2 kinase of the HCR system.     

Regulation of double-stranded RNA-activated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α kinase by type 2 protein phosphatase in reticulocyte lysates

Protein synthesis initiation in reticulocyte lysates is inhibited by low concentrations (1-20 ng/ml) of double-stranded RNA (ds RNA) due to the activation of a ds RNA-dependent cAMP-independent protein kinase (ds I) that phosphorylates the α subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF-2. In lysates, ds I is present in the latent inactive form and is associated with the ribosome complement. Latent ds I is solubilized by extraction with high-salt buffers and can be purified in its latent form. Activation of purified latent ds I requires ds RNA and ATP and is accompanied by the ds RNA-dependent autophosphorylation of a polypeptide doublet of 70,000 and 72,000 daltons (“70k/72k”), which represent different phosphorylated states of the same polypeptide. These are phosphorylated in the sequence 70k→72k; increased phosphorylation of 72k is associated with increased ds I activation. Lysates (or Sepharose 6B ribosomes) treated with ds RNA display a similar ds I phosphoprotein profile, and this is accompanied by the phosphorylation of endogenous eIF-2α (38,000 daltons). Delayed ³²P pulses in ds RNA-inhibited lysates indicate that the phosphates on ds I and eIF-2α turn over. Under defined conditions, activated ds I in lysates is selectively dephosphorylated by endogenous protein phosphatase(s), and this is accompanied by the dephosphorylation of eIF-2α. Similarly, purified activated ds I is rapidly dephosphorylated by unfractionated lysate protein phosphatase(s) and by type 2 protein phosphatase but not by type 1 protein phosphatase. The dephosphorylation of ds I occurs in the sequence 72k→70k and is correlated with ds I inactivation. The heat-stable protein phosphatase inhibitor-2, which selectively blocks type 1 protein phosphatase, does not significantly affect the dephosphorylation of ds I by type 2 protein phosphatase or by unfractionated lysate phosphatases. The data support the conclusion that a ds I phosphatase activity with type 2 characteristics is involved in the regulation of ds I activity.     

Role of 3'':5''-cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase in regulation of protein synthesis in reticulocyte lysates.

The initiation inhibitor of reticulocyte lysates has been shown by others to be associated with a 3':5'-cyclic-AMP-independent protein kinase that catalyzes the phosphorylation of the small (38,000 daltons) subunit of the polypeptide chain initiation factor eIF-2. This factor forms a ternary complex with Met-tRNAi and GTP which, on interaction with a 40S ribosome, gives rise to a 40S complex. Ternary complex formation is inhibited by prior incubation of partially purified eIF-2 with reticulocyte inhibitor and ATP. The relation between phosphorylation and inactivation of eIF-2 is indicated by the lack of inhibition when ATP is omitted. Translation in hemin-containing reticulocyte lysates is also inhibited by cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinases or their catalytic subunits. They act by converting proinhibitor (inactive eIF-2 kinase) present in lysates to inhibitor (active eIF-2 kinase). This reaction is analogous to the conversion of inactive phosphorylase kinase to active phosphorylase kinase.     

Regulation of protein synthesis in reticulocyte lysates: phosphorylation of methionyl-tRNAf binding factor by protein kinase activity of translational inhibitor isolated from hemedeficient lysates.

A previous study demonstrated that the translational inhibitor from lysates of heme-deficient rabbit reticulocytes is associated with a protein kinase activity. Chromatography of this inhibitor preparation on phosphocellulose yields two distinct protein kinase activities, PC1 and PC2. PC1, which consitutes about 90% of the activity in the unresolved preparation, does not inhibit protein synthesis in lysates, but actively phosporylates calf thymus histone II in a 3':5'-cyclic AMP-denpendent reaction. PC2 contains the translational inhibitor, phosphorylates histone poorly, and is not cyclic AMP-dependent. While [gamma-32P]ATP as the phosphate donor, the two kinase fractions were analyzed with the putative substrates, salt-washed 40S ribosomal subunits, and the initiation factor that mediates the binding of Met-tRNAf to the 40S subunit. PC1 is inactive with the initiation factor, but phosphorylates 40S subunits at a single major site that migrates as a 31,000-dalton band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gels; phosphorylation requires cyclic AMP. Similar phosphorylation of the reticulocyte 40S site (31,000 daltons) can be demonstrated with other cyclic AMP-dependent kinases from reticulocytes, rat liver, and bovine heart muscle. PC2 phosphorylates the small subunit (38,000 daltons) but not the large subunit(s) of the initiation factor; the reaction does not require cyclic AMP. PC2 does not phosphorylate 40S subunits. In the presence of 40S subunits, the initiation factor appears to be rapidly bound in a manner that effectively blocks phosphorylation of the initiation factor by PC2; under the same conditions phosphorylation of the 40S subunit by PC1 is not affected. The initiation factor has been shown to reverse the inhibitions of protein chain initiation induced in lysates by heme deficiency, double-stranded RNA, oxidized glutathione, or the purified translational inhibitor. The observation that the Met-tRNAf binding factor is phosphorylated by PC2 supports the hypothesis that this initiation factor is a target for the action of the translational inhibitor activated in heme deficiency.     

Regulation of protein synthesis in reticulocyte lysates: immune serum inhibits heme-regulated protein kinase activity and differentiates heme-regulated protein kinase from double-stranded RNA-induced protein kinase.

A specific immune serum to the heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI) has been prepared by immunizing chickens with highly purified reversible HRI prepared from rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Studies with this immune serum demonstrate that the behavior of purified reversible HRI is similar to that of the inhibitor activated in rabbit reticulocyte lysates: the immune serum (i) inhibits the phosphorylation of the small subunit (38,000 daltons) of the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF-2 by both crude and purified inhibitor preparations; (ii) prevents the concomitant inhibition of protein synthesis by both crude and purified inhibitor preparations; and (iii) prevents the autophosphorylation of the 95,000-dalton polypeptide in purified and crude HRI preparations. The protein kinase and inhibitory activities of crude and partially purified preparations of the double-stranded RNA-induced inhibitor of protein synthesis are not affected by the immune serum prepared to reversible HRI. These results indicate that the inhibitor induced by double-stranded RNA is antigenically distinct from the reversible HRI.     

Characterization of double-stranded-RNA-activated kinase that phosphorylates α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2α) in reticulocyte lysates

Incubation of reticulocyte lysates with low levels of double-stranded (ds) RNA (1-20 ng/ml) activates a cAMP-independent protein kinase (dsI) that phosphorylates the α-subunit (M_r 38,000) of initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) and produces an inhibition of protein chain initiation similar to that caused by heme deficiency. Activation of dsI from its latent precursor takes place on the ribosomes and requires ATP. dsI can also be activated in ribosomal salt washes and in partially purified preparations of the latent precursor of dsI. In all preparations, activation is accompanied by the ds RNA-dependent phosphorylation of a polypeptide doublet that migrates as bands of 67 and 68.5 kilodaltons (67/68.5) in NaDodSO₄/acrylamide gels. The rate of phosphorylation of these components in a ribosome salt wash is more rapid than the ds RNA-dependent phosphorylation of eIF-2α. Other polypeptides in the salt wash also undergo ds RNA-dependent phosphorylation, but their significance is not clear. All of these phosphorylations are prevented by high concentrations of poly(I)·poly(C)(20 μg/ml), but not by an antiserum specific for the heme-regulated eIF-2α kinase. Both the latent and activated forms of dsI have been partially purified from a 0.5 M KCl wash of reticulocyte ribosomes. The two species have similar M_rs (≈120,000) and sedimentation coefficients (≈3.75 S), which suggests that activation of dsI probably does not involve extensive changes. By comparison, the heme-regulated eIF-2α kinase has an M_r of ≈160,000 and sediments at ≈6.6 S. However, in vitro, dsI and HRI both phosphorylate the same site(s) of eIF-2α. Purified dsI inhibits protein synthesis in hemin-supplemented lysates with the same kinetics induced by the addition of ds RNA; both inhibitions are reversed by eIF-2. dsI that has been activated in the salt wash and then purified does not require ds RNA for expression and no longer displays phosphorylation of the 68.5/67 doublet, which appears to occur only during activation. The data support the view that this component(s) may be the eIF-2α kinase activated by ds RNA.     

Double-stranded RNA-dependent phosphorylation of protein P1 and eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha does not correlate with protein synthesis inhibition in a cell-free system from interferon-treated mouse L cells.

The double-stranded RNAs (I)n X (C)n and (A)n X (dUfl)n (dUfl is 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylic acid) have been compared as inhibitors of translation in cell-free systems from interferon-treated mouse L cells and from rabbit reticulocytes. In the interferon-treated mouse L-cell system, both double-stranded RNAs stimulated kinase activity, leading to phosphorylation of protein P1 and eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF-2 alpha), but only (1)n X (C)n activated the (2'-5')-oligoadenylate synthetase. Moreover, in this system, (I)n X (C)n, but not (A)n X (dUfl)n, inhibited translation. Both (A)n X (dUfl)n and (I)n X (C)n also activated the rabbit reticulocyte kinase to phosphorylate protein P1 and eIF-2 alpha, but, in contrast to mouse L-cell systems, both (A)n X (dUfl)n and (I)n X (C)n were potent inhibitors of translation in reticulocyte lysates. These results indicate that protein P1 and eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation are not sufficient to cause inhibition of protein synthesis in interferon-treated mouse L-cell extracts. They further suggest that protein synthesis inhibition by (I)n X (C)n in extracts of interferon-treated L cells correlates better with activation of (2'-5')-oligoadenylate synthetase than with activation of the protein P1 and eIF-2 alpha kinase.     

Fate of reversing factor during restoration of protein synthesis by hemin or GTP in heme-deficient reticulocyte lysates.

The inhibition of protein synthesis in hemedeficient reticulocyte lysates is reversed by the addition of hemin (20 microM) or MgGTP (2 mM). The rate of recovery is rapid and approaches control kinetics within a few minutes after the addition of either component. The restoration of protein synthesis is dependent upon the availability of functional reversing factor (RF). The fate of RF was monitored during recovery by using a method that measures RF activity in the lysate under physiological conditions. In the fully inhibited lysate, RF is sequestered in a nondissociable 15S [RF . eIF-2(alpha P)] complex (where eIF-2 indicates eukaryotic initiation factor 2) in which RF activity is not functional and cannot be assayed. The first step in the rescue of protein synthesis in inhibited lysates by hemin or MgGTP is the inhibition of heme-regulated eIF-2 alpha kinase, which enables endogenous phosphatase to dephosphorylate eIF-2(alpha P) and [RF . eIF-2(alpha P)]. The release of approximately 50% of the sequestered RF activity is sufficient to support optimal kinetics of recovery. Hemin and MgGTP both reverse inhibition by blocking the activation and/or activity of heme-regulated eIF-2 alpha kinase in the lysate. The conclusion that MgGTP exerts its effect on eIF-2 alpha kinase is supported by several in vitro findings: (i) 2 mM MgGTP inhibits the autophosphorylation of purified heme-regulated eIF-2 alpha kinase and abolishes its ability to phosphorylate eIF-2 alpha; (ii) 2 mM MgGTP cannot displace GDP in the binary complexes [eIF-2 . GDP] or [eIF-2(alpha P) . GDP] by mass action; and (iii) RF in the [RF . eIF-2(alpha P)] complex is not dissociated by 2 mM MgGTP.