Ribosome protection by tRNA derivatives against inactivation by virginiamycin M: evidence for two types of interaction of tRNA with the donor site of peptidyl transferase.

Virginiamycin M (VM) was previously shown to interfere with the function of both the A and P sites of ribosomes and to inactivate tRNA-free ribosomes but not particles bearing peptidyl-tRNA. To explain these findings, the shielding ability afforded by tRNA derivatives positioned at the A and P sites against VM-produced inactivation was explored. Unacylated tRNA(Phe) was ineffective, irrespective of its position on the ribosome. Phe-tRNA and Ac-Phe-tRNA provided little protection when bound directly to the P site but were active when present at the A site. Protection by these tRNA derivatives was markedly enhanced by the formation of the first peptide bond and increased further upon elongation of peptide chains. Most of the shielding ability of Ac-Phe-tRNA and Phe-tRNA positioned at the A site was conserved when these tRNAs were translocated to the P site by the action of elongation factor G and GTP. Thus, a 5-10-fold difference in the protection afforded by these tRNAs was observed, depending on their mode of entry to the P site. This indicates the occurrence of two types of interaction of tRNA derivatives with the donor site of peptidyl transferase: one shared by acylated tRNAs directly bound to the ribosomal P site (no protection against VM) and the other characteristic of aminoacyl- or peptidyl-tRNA translocated from the A site (protection of peptidyl transferase against VM). To explain these data and previous observations with other protein synthesis inhibitors, a new model of peptidyl transferase is proposed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)