Translation elongation factor 4 (LepA) contributes to tetracycline susceptibility by stalling elongating ribosomes.

Translation elongation factor 4 (LepA) contributes to tetracycline susceptibility by stalling elongating ribosomes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2018 May 21;: Authors: Liu B, Chen C 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 growth of an Escherichia coli strain is more susceptible to tetracycline than its EF4 knockout strain. In consistence 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. Together, when cells are exposed to tetracycline, EF4 alters both ribosome biogenesis and the elongation phase of protein synthesis. PMID: 29784847 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Source Type: research