PROSITE documentation PDOC00648

Elongation factor 1 beta/beta'/delta chain signatures

Eukaryotic elongation factor 1 (EF-1) is responsible for the GTP-dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNAs to the ribosomes [1]. EF-1 is composed of four subunits: the α chain which binds GTP and aminoacyl-tRNAs, the γ chain that probably plays a role in anchoring the complex to other cellular components and the β and delta (or β') chains. The β and delta chains are highly similar proteins that both stimulate the exchange of GDP bound to the α chain for GTP [2]. The β and delta chains are hydrophilic proteins of around 23 to 31 Kd. Their C-terminal part seems important for the nucleotide exchange activity, while the N-terminal section is probably involved in the interaction with the γ chain.

We have developed two signature patterns for this family of proteins. The first corresponds to an acidic region in the central section; the second, to the C-terminal extremity of these proteins.