Structural basis for dynamic interdomain movement and RNA recognition of the selenocysteine-specific elongation factor SelB
Ose, T.; Soler, N.; Rasubala, L.; Kuroki, K.; Kohda, D.; Fourmy, D.; Yoshizawa, S.; Maenaka, K.
Structure 15(5): 577-586
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0969-2126 PMID: 17502103 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2007.03.007
Accession: 013838743
Selenocysteine (Sec) is the "21st" amino acid and is genetically encoded by an unusual incorporation system. The stop codon UGA becomes a Sec codon when the selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) exists downstream of UGA. Sec incorporation requires a specific elongation factor, SelB, which recognizes tRNA(Sec) via use of an EF-Tu-like domain and the SECIS mRNA hairpin via use of a C-terminal domain (SelB-C). SelB functions in multiple translational steps: binding to SECIS mRNA and tRNA(Sec), delivery of tRNA(Sec) onto an A site, GTP hydrolysis, and release from tRNA and mRNA. However, this dynamic mechanism remains to be revealed. Here, we report a large domain rearrangement in the structure of SelB-C complexed with RNA. Surprisingly, the interdomain region forms new interactions with the phosphate backbone of a neighboring RNA, distinct from SECIS RNA binding. This SelB-RNA interaction is sequence independent, possibly reflecting SelB-tRNA/-rRNA recognitions. Based on these data, the dynamic SelB-ribosome-mRNA-tRNA interactions will be discussed.