Hypusine, a polyamine-derived amino acid critical for eukaryotic translation.

The natural amino acid hypusine (-4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl(lysine)) is derived from the polyamine spermidine, and occurs only in a single family of cellular proteins, eukaryotic translation factor 5A (eIF5A) isoforms. Hypusine is formed by conjugation of the aminobutyl moiety of spermidine to a specific lysine residue of this protein. The posttranslational synthesis of hypusine involves two enzymatic steps, catalyzed by deoxyhypusine synthase (DHPS) and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH). Hypusine is essential for eIF5A activity. Inactivation of either the eIF5A or the DHPS gene is lethal in yeast and mouse, underscoring the vital role of eIF5A hypusination in eukaryotic cell growth and animal development. The long and basic side chain of the hypusine residue promotes eIF5A-mediated translation elongation by facilitating peptide bond formation at polyproline stretches and at many other ribosome-pausing sites. It also enhances translation termination by stimulating peptide release. By promoting translation, the hypusine modification of eIF5A provides a key link between polyamines and cell growth regulation. eIF5A has been implicated in several human pathological conditions. Recent genetic data suggest that eIF5A haploinsufficiency or impaired deoxyhypusine synthase activity is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in humans.