Purification and properties of protein synthesis initiation and elongation factors from wheat germ

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the procedures for obtaining highly purified eukaryotic initiation factors (eIF) eIF-2, eIF-3, eIF-4A, eIF-4B, eIF-4F, partially purified eIF-5, and highly purified elongation factors (EF) EF-Iα, EF-Iβγ, and EF-2 from wheat germ. Initiation of the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) on cytoplasmic ribosomes of eukaryotic cells is a complicated process requiring Met-transfer RNA (tRNA), Guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP), Adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP), 10 initiation factors, and one or more ancillary factors. The chapter also describes some of the physical and functional properties of these factors. It also outlines the assay for elongation factors, EF-Iα, EF-Iβγ, and EF-2 and the assay for initiation factors, eIF-3, eIF-4A, eIF-4B, eIF-4F, and eIF-5. The elongation factors are measured by their ability to support poly (U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis.