24] The binding of Escherichia coli elongation factor G to the ribosome

Abstract

Publisher Summary Elongation factor G (EF G) is one of the soluble factors involved in the process of peptide chain elongation. It is required for translocation to occur, i.e., the movement of the ribosome relative to the mRNA. GTP is required for EF G to function in the overall reaction, and GTP is hydrolyzed to GDP and Pi. In addition, EF G in the presence of ribosomes, but in the absence of other components of protein synthesis, catalyzes the hydrolysis of GTP. Both the EF G-dependent translocation and the “uncoupled” GTP hydrolysis are inhibited by the steroid antibiotic fusidic acid? Recent studies have shown that EF G binds to the ribosome in a reaction dependent on either GTP or GDP to form a labile ribosome·EF G·GDP complex.