Hydrolysis of GTP by elongation factor G drives tRNA movement on the ribosome

Rodnina, Marina V.
Savelsbergh, Andreas
Katunin, Vladimir I.
Wintermeyer, Wolfgang

Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Witten/Herdecke, D-58448 Witten, Germany.
Sankt Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 188350 Gatchina, Russia (V. I. Katunin).

Nature 385(6611):p 37-41, January 2, 1997.

Elongation factor G (EF-G) is a GTPase that is involved in the translocation of bacterial ribosomes along messenger RNA during protein biosynthesis. In contrast to current models, EF-G-dependent GTP hydrolysis is shown to precede, and greatly accelerate, the rearrangement of the ribosome that leads to translocation. Domain IV of the EF-G structure is crucial for both rapid translocation and subsequent release of the factor from the ribosome. By coupling the free energy of GTP hydrolysis to translocation, EF-G serves as a motor protein to drive the directional movement of transfer and messenger RNAs on the ribosome.