Indications for a moonlighting function of translation factor aIF5A in the crenarchaeum Sulfolobus solfataricus

Flavia Bassani; Isabelle Anna Zink; Thomas Pribasnig; Michael T Wolfinger; Alice Romagnoli; Armin Resch; Christa Schleper; Udo Bläsi; Anna La Teana

doi:10.1080/15476286.2019.1582953

Indications for a moonlighting function of translation factor aIF5A in the crenarchaeum Sulfolobus solfataricus

RNA Biol. 2019 May;16(5):675-685. doi: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1582953. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Authors

Flavia Bassani¹, Isabelle Anna Zink², Thomas Pribasnig², Michael T Wolfinger³, Alice Romagnoli⁴, Armin Resch¹, Christa Schleper², Udo Bläsi¹, Anna La Teana⁴

Affiliations

¹ a Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max F. Perutz Laboratories , University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
² b Division of Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology , University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
³ c Institute of Theoretical Chemistry , University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
⁴ d Department of Life and Environmental Sciences , Polytechnic University of Marche , Ancona , Italy.

Abstract

Translation factor a/eIF5A is highly conserved in Eukarya and Archaea. The eukaryal eIF5A protein is required for transit of ribosomes across consecutive proline codons, whereas the function of the archaeal orthologue remains unknown. Here, we provide a first hint for an involvement of Sulfolobus solfataricus (Sso) aIF5A in translation. CRISPR-mediated knock down of the aif5A gene resulted in strong growth retardation, underlining a pivotal function. Moreover, in vitro studies revealed that Sso aIF5A is endowed with endoribonucleolytic activity. Thus, aIF5A appears to be a moonlighting protein that might be involved in protein synthesis as well as in RNA metabolism.

Keywords: Archaea; RNase; Translation factor aIF5A.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Archaeal Proteins / genetics
Archaeal Proteins / metabolism
CRISPR-Cas Systems
Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5A
Peptide Initiation Factors / genetics
Peptide Initiation Factors / metabolism*
Protein Biosynthesis*
RNA, Archaeal / metabolism
RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
Sulfolobus solfataricus / growth & development*
Sulfolobus solfataricus / metabolism

Substances

Archaeal Proteins
Peptide Initiation Factors
RNA, Archaeal
RNA-Binding Proteins

Grants and funding

Funds provided by Austrian Science Fund (FWF). This work was supported by Grant 22888 from the Austrian Science Fund to UB and by funds (RSA2017) from the Polytechnic University of Marche to ALT.