In eukaryotic translation initiation, eIF2B, a 295 kDa multisubunit (from α to ε) complex,is the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) of eIF2, a GTP binding protein, and hasmultiple roles in regulating the level of active eIF2-GTP-Met-tRNAi ternary complexes inthe cytoplasm. Mutations in eIF2B subunits affect global protein synthesis and, in human,are responsible to cause a genetically inherited lethal childhood brain disease calledLeukoencephalopathy with Vanishing White Matter (VWM). Although the genetic aspectseIF2B have been widely studied over decades, detailed structural knowledge only becameavailable in recent years but is still limited. This study aims to gain structural insights intoyeast eIF2B by a range of electron microscopy techniques to improve our understandingtowards its GEF activity with eIF2 and regulatory response. By performing size-exclusion chromatography and multi-angle static light scattering (SECMALS), it was found that eIF2B is a stable dimer of pentamers (~600 kDa). Negativestaining (25.8 Å) and cryo-EM (12.1 Å) eIF2B decamer models that showed 2-foldrotational symmetry were generated by single particle reconstruction. Homology modelingof yeast eIF2B subunits revealed an eIF2B(αβδ)2 hexameric core and two separate arm-likeeIF2Bγε catalytic domains with potential flexibility. To constrain subunit position in thearm structure, Ni-NTA-Nanogold labeling against the multihistidine tag of eIF2Bγ wasperformed. In addition, genetic approaches were applied to eliminate synthesis of eIF2Bα(34 kDa) and eIF2B(βγδε)2 octamer complexes (532 kDa) were purified by SEC-MALSand analysed by negative staining single particle reconstruction. It was speculated thatdeletion of eIF2Bα might have triggered significant conformational rearrangement that ledto high uniformity in the 2D class averages. A hypothetical model was thus proposed forthe octamer where the two arm-like domains clamp together to form a compact structure.

Fusel alcohols signal nitrogen scarcity to elicit a range of responses in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These alcohols activate pseudohyphal growth and cause rapid inhibition of translation initiation. Previous work from our lab has highlighted that the translation initiation factor eIF2B is a target for this regulation. eIF2B is the guanine nucleotide exchange factor required for recycling eIF2•GDP to eIF2•GTP. The GTP bound form of eIF2 can interact with the Methionyl initiator tRNA to form the ternary complex. Fusel alcohols target eIF2B leading to reduced ternary complex; however the mechanism by which alcohols cause this effect is currently unknown. This study aims to characterize the effects of fusel alcohols on eIF2B and identify post-translational modifications, which may be responsible for translation inhibition. Following purification of eIF2B, a number of novel phosphorylation sites have been identified using mass spectrometry. In particular, phosphorylated serine has been identified at position 131 within yeast eIF2Bδ. Phosphoantibody analysis suggests that the phosphorylation status of this residue differs following fusel alcohol treatment. Mutagenesis experiments are consistent with phosphorylation of this residue being essential for the translational inhibition seen following fusel alcohol exposure. Therefore, phosphorylation of this residue may prime eIF2B for regulation and provide a switch to sensitize the process of translation to particular conditions.

The ability to sense and respond to environmental cues is crucial for the survival of all organisms. This response is often manifested by exerting control at different levels of gene expression, i.e. transcription, translation and post translation levels. Global control of protein synthesis is frequently exercised at the initial step of translation initiation and is generally achieved by changes in the phosphorylation state of initiation factors or the regulators that interact with them. The formation of ternary complex (TC) is considered first step of translation initiation and depends on the recycling of inactive eIF2-GDP to active eIF2-GTP form. This nucleotide exchange reaction is catalyzed by the eukaryotic initiation factor-2B (eIF2B). eIF2B is composed of a regulatory sub-complex of alphaβdelta subunits and a catalytic sub-complex of the γε subunits. The guanine nucleotide exchange activity of eIF2B is regulated by phosphorylation of eIF2alpha and additionally in mammalian cells, by direct phosphorylation of eIF2B at multiple sites in ε subunit, where most of the catalytic activity of eIF2B resides. Recent unpublished studies in the Pavitt laboratory identified novel phosphorylation sites by Mass Spectrometry in γ and ε subunits of eIF2B catalytic sub-complex. In order to study the functional significance of these phospho-sites for translation initiation, Site Directed Mutagenesis (SDM) was performed to generate Ser to Ala mutants. All mutations are viable and have no significant growth defect on rich or minimal media; however the significance of these sites in yeast growth became apparent by growing yeast in different stress conditions (e.g. Rapamycin, Torin1, amino acid starvation and 1-butanol). Effects on the phosphorylation pattern at these sites were monitored by using custom generated phospho-specific antibodies. All phosphorylation events appear independent of the eIF2alpha kinase (Gcn2p in yeast). The phosphorylation of ε-S528 depends on the presence of ε-S525. This study finds that addition of rapamycin, Torin1, amino acid starvation and butanol, which each inhibits global translation initiation, alters the phosphorylation pattern at ε-S435, ε-S525 and ε-S528 sites. Linking growth to phosphorylation, it appears that phosphorylation at ε-S435 and ε-S525 is directly proportional to growth. Phosphorylation of ε-S435 is necessary for effect of eIF2alpha-Ser51 phosphorylation on protein synthesis while phosphorylation of ε-S528 seems to be a target of various mechanisms. This study also suggests that eIF2Bε may be a key player of the cell cycle progression and phosphorylation changes can serve as marker for the regulation of eIF2B activity. The kinases responsible for phosphorylation at these sites are not yet known in yeast. Further investigation is required to find the functional significance of alterations in phosphorylation pattern to definitively establish eIF2Bε phosphorylation as a mechanism for regulating eIF2B activity in yeast. Models are presented to account for the results obtained that show how phosphorylation of eIF2Bε at these sites may contribute to the control of protein synthesis.

The Integrated Stress Response (ISR) is a conserved eukaryotic translational and transcriptional program implicated in mammalian metabolism, memory and immunity. Although mainly considered to be a protective mechanism, prolonged and severe ISR can result in cell death. The ISR is activated by diverse stress pathways converged on phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2) that inhibits the guanine nucleotide exchange activity of its partner eIF2B and attenuates overall rates of protein synthesis. Numerous mutations in eIF2B are linked to a fatal neurodegenerative disease of vanishing white matter. A new chemical inhibitor of the ISR (ISRIB), a bis-O-arylglycolamide, can reverse the attenuation of mRNA translation by phosphorylated eIF2 protecting mice from prion-induced neurodegeneration and traumatic brain injury. The work presented in this dissertation describes identification of mammalian eIF2B as a cellular target of ISRIB by implementing biochemical, biophysical, structural and chemogenetic methods. The herein reported cryo-electron microscopy-based structure of eIF2B uncovers a novel allosteric site on the translation factor capturing the ISRIB-binding pocket at the interface between its β and δ regulatory subunits. The extensive CRISPR/ Cas9-based screen for ISRIB-resistant and analogue-sensitive phenotypes revealed residues on the eIF2B dimer interface important for ISRIB binding. Based on the results reported in this dissertation along with the similar findings of others the potential molecular basis of ISRIB action, and its implication for the regulation of eIF2B's activity is broadly discussed. The identification of the ISRIB binding pocket away from the known interaction sites between eIF2B and eIF2 is also put into the context of a possible molecular mechanism of eIF2B's guanine exchange inhibition by phosphorylated eIF2. The work described in this dissertation provides new insight into the translational regulation and points to the importance of fine-tuning the activity of translation factors by small chemical molecules.

Eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) is a heteropentameric guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that converts inactive eIF2 GDP-bound binary complexes into active eIF2 GTP-bound complexes that can bind initiator t-RNA molecules and ribosomes to begin translation. eIF2B is functionally divided into two subcomplexes: the catalytic core comprised of eIF2B epsilon and eIF2B gamma, and the regulatory core comprised of eIF2B alpha, eIF2B beta and eIF2B delta. While the catalytic subunits are responsible for exerting GEF activity, the regulatory subunits recognize eIF2 and respond to eIF2 alpha phosphorylation. Cellular stress, such as virus infection, inhibits host protein synthesis by activating specific kinases that are capable of phosphorylating the alpha subunit of eIF2, which can then sequester eIF2B to stall guanine nucleotide exchange by a currently unresolved mechanism. Importantly, we demonstrate that loss of eIF2B alpha or expression of a variant of the human eIF2B alpha subunit harboring a single point mutation (T41A) is sufficient to neutralize the consequences of eIF2 alpha phosphorylation, and render primary MEFs significantly more susceptible to vesicular stomatitis virus infection. To extend this analysis, we further exhibit the vital function of eIF2B alpha in protein synthesis through phenotypic studies in yeast. Here, we report that this subunit can sufficiently substitute for its yeast counterpart, GCN3, and reproduce similar growth phenotypes under normal and amino acid deprived conditions. In addition, the human eIF2B alpha-T41A variant was unable derepress GCN4 translation in response to an inhibitor of amino acid biosynthesis in yeast, an activity that requires sensitivity to phosphorylation of the yeast eIF2 alpha homolog, SUI2. Previously, we have demonstrated that vesicular stomatitis virus can infect and replicate to high levels in tumor cells. Moreover, these cells appear to contain defects in eIF2 alpha-mediated translational control, plausibly due to disregulation of eIF2B activity, which overcomes the inhibitory effects of eIF2 alpha phosphorylation. Our data suggest a role for eIF2B, specifically eIF2B alpha, in suppression of translation following virus infection, and imply that this complex may contribute to oncogenic transformation. These results emphasize the importance of eIF2B alpha in mediating eIF2 kinase translation inhibitory activity and may provide insight into the complex nature of viral oncolysis and cellular transformation.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2) is a heterotrimeric G-protein that plays a critical role in protein synthesis regulation. eIF2-GTP binds Met-tRNAi to form the eIF2-GTP:Met-tRNAi ternary complex (TC), that is recruited to the 40S ribosomal subunit. Following GTP hydrolysis, eIF2-GDP is recycled back to TC by its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), eIF2B. Phosphorylation of the eIF2α subunit in response to various cellular stresses converts eIF2 into a competitive inhibitor of eIF2B, triggering the integrated stress response. Dysregulation of eIF2B activity is associated with a number of pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer. However, despite decades of research, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. This is due in large part to the absence of a structural understanding of the eIF2B assembly and of the eIF2B:eIF2 interaction. Common methods, such as yeast genetics, have been unable to unambiguously determine these mechanisms. Meanwhile, expanded interest in the integrated stress response has uncovered a diverse array of pathologies for which therapeutic modulation of the eIF2B:eIF2 interaction may ameliorate or overcome disease states. In this dissertation, a combination of structural and biochemical techniques is employed to elucidate the mechanisms of eIF2B action and its regulation by eIF2α phosphorylation. The aim is to provide a direct, unambiguous, structural understanding of eIF2B assembly and of eIF2B’s interactions with phosphorylated and unphosphorylated eIF2α. The work described here was among the first to challenge the widely held notion of a pentameric eIF2B assembly, as eventually confirmed by the recent publication of eIF2B’s crystal structure. The work further aims to overturn another long-standing assumption regarding the nature of inhibition of eIF2B activity: that competitive inhibition is mediated by a “direct effect” of the negatively charged phosphate group on the eIF2α:eIF2B interaction. Instead, we present evidence for an “indirect effect,” whereby phosphorylation disrupts a novel intramolecular interface within eIF2α, exposing an eIF2α surface that binds eIF2B and is responsible for inhibition of eIF2B. In the end, we combine a structural model of the eIF2B:eIF2 complex with our novel mechanism of inhibition, placing them within the larger thermodynamic context of eIF2-GDP recycling by eIF2B. / 2017-09-08T00:00:00Z

Les eIF2B-pathies représentent un groupe de leucodystrophies de transmission autosomique récessive du à des mutations du facteur ubiquitaire eIF2B. Celui-ci intervient dans l’initiation de la traduction et ses régulations, particulièrement en cas de stress cellulaires, grâce à son activité d’échange de guanine (GEF). Un large spectre clinique et mutationnel a été décrit pour cette pathologie.La diminution de l’activité GEF a pu être validée comme marqueur diagnostique spécifique des eIF2B-pathies dans les lymphoblastes de patients atteints avec un seuil d’activité à 77,5% pour une spécificité de 100% et une sensibilité de 89%.La compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires en cause a ensuite été recherchée selon trois approches :- une première focalisée sur l’étude de la réponse au stress du réticulum endoplasmique (RE) dans les lymphoblastes de patients eIF2B-mutés. L’hyper-activation transcriptionnelle et traductionnelle des gènes de la réponse au stress du RE, observée dans d’autres études et sur d’autres types cellulaires n’a pas été retrouvée dans cette étude.- une approche globale d’étude transcriptomique différentielle dans des fibroblastes primaires de patients eIF2B-mutés soumis ou non à un stress cellulaire. La comparaison du transcriptome avec celui de contrôles sains et de patients porteurs d’une autre leucodystrophie n’a pas permis de mettre en évidence un effet spécifique du stress dans les fibroblastes eIF2B-mutés. En revanche, il a pu être montré une dérégulation de l’expression de 70 gènes spécifiquement dans ces fibroblastes ainsi que l’implication de voies métaboliques telles que l’épissage et la stabilité des ARNm, importantes au cours du développement du système nerveux central. Ces gènes trouvés dérégulés dans les fibroblastes, appartenant notamment à la famille des hnRNP, ont été ensuite validés dans les cerveaux de patients eIF2B-mutés et une anomalie d’épissage de certains transcrits importants pour les cellules gliales a également été identifiée.- enfin, pour valider l’hypothèse d’une anomalie développementale des cellules gliales, le modèle des cellules souches embryonnaires (ESC) a été utilisé et un défaut génétique a été introduit dans ces cellules afin de mimer les mutations eIF2B. Une anomalie de différentiation de ces ESC en cellules gliales a pu être mise en évidence dans ce modèle qui pourrait alors constituer un outil de choix pour tester des molécules pouvant potentiellement améliorer la différenciation de ces cellules, principales en cause dans cette pathologie. / EIF2B-related disorders are an autosomal recessive leukodystrophy caused by mutations in the ubiquitary eIF2B factor. This one is involved in the translation initiation step and its regulation, particularly upon cellular stresses, thanks to its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity. A wide continuum clinical and mutational spectrum has been described for this pathology.The decrease of eIF2B GEF activity has been validated as an eIF2B-pathies specific biomarker in affected patients’ lymphoblasts with 100% specificity and 89% sensibility using a threshold at 77.5%.Functional molecular mechanisms involved in the physiopathology of eIF2B-related disorders have been searched by three approaches:- the first one focalized on the study of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response in lymphoblasts from eIF2B-mutated patients. The translational hyper-induction of specific genes involved in the unfolded protein response, identified in other cell types, was not observed in this study.- a global approach using a differential transcriptomic study of primary fibroblasts from eIF2B-mutated patients submitted or not to a cellular stress. The comparison with the transcriptomic profile of fibroblasts from healthy controls and patients presenting with other types of leukodystrophies not allowed us to identify a specific stress effect in eIF2B-mutated fibroblasts. On the other hand, it has been shown 70 genes specifically differentially deregulated in eIF2B-mutated fibroblasts as well as metabolic pathways implication, like splicing and mRNA stability, that are critical during the central nervous system development. We then validated that these genes, belonging the the hnRNP family, were also deregulated in brains from eIF2B-mutated patients and a splice abnormality of genes implicated in glial cells network has also been identified.- finally, in order to validate the hypothesis of an abnormal glial cell development, the embryonic stem cells (ESC) model has been used and a genetic default has been introduced in these cells to mimic eIF2B mutations. We identified an abnormal differentiation of these ESC into glial cells. Therefore, this model would provide a unique tool to search therapeutic agents that would improve glial cell differentiation, the major cells implicated in this pathology.

Les eIF2B-pathies représentent un groupe de leucodystrophies de transmission autosomique récessive du à des mutations du facteur ubiquitaire eIF2B. Celui-ci intervient dans l'initiation de la traduction et ses régulations, particulièrement en cas de stress cellulaires, grâce à son activité d'échange de guanine (GEF). Un large spectre clinique et mutationnel a été décrit pour cette pathologie.La diminution de l'activité GEF a pu être validée comme marqueur diagnostique spécifique des eIF2B-pathies dans les lymphoblastes de patients atteints avec un seuil d'activité à 77,5% pour une spécificité de 100% et une sensibilité de 89%.La compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires en cause a ensuite été recherchée selon trois approches :- une première focalisée sur l'étude de la réponse au stress du réticulum endoplasmique (RE) dans les lymphoblastes de patients eIF2B-mutés. L'hyper-activation transcriptionnelle et traductionnelle des gènes de la réponse au stress du RE, observée dans d'autres études et sur d'autres types cellulaires n'a pas été retrouvée dans cette étude.- une approche globale d'étude transcriptomique différentielle dans des fibroblastes primaires de patients eIF2B-mutés soumis ou non à un stress cellulaire. La comparaison du transcriptome avec celui de contrôles sains et de patients porteurs d'une autre leucodystrophie n'a pas permis de mettre en évidence un effet spécifique du stress dans les fibroblastes eIF2B-mutés. En revanche, il a pu être montré une dérégulation de l'expression de 70 gènes spécifiquement dans ces fibroblastes ainsi que l'implication de voies métaboliques telles que l'épissage et la stabilité des ARNm, importantes au cours du développement du système nerveux central. Ces gènes trouvés dérégulés dans les fibroblastes, appartenant notamment à la famille des hnRNP, ont été ensuite validés dans les cerveaux de patients eIF2B-mutés et une anomalie d'épissage de certains transcrits importants pour les cellules gliales a également été identifiée.- enfin, pour valider l'hypothèse d'une anomalie développementale des cellules gliales, le modèle des cellules souches embryonnaires (ESC) a été utilisé et un défaut génétique a été introduit dans ces cellules afin de mimer les mutations eIF2B. Une anomalie de différentiation de ces ESC en cellules gliales a pu être mise en évidence dans ce modèle qui pourrait alors constituer un outil de choix pour tester des molécules pouvant potentiellement améliorer la différenciation de ces cellules, principales en cause dans cette pathologie.

Eukaryotic translation initiation is a complex and highly regulated process involving the ribosome, mRNA and proteins called eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs). The overall aim of translation initiation is to position the ribosome at the initiation codon of the mRNA. eIF2, in its GTP-bound conformation, binds the initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAiMet) and delivers it to the 40S ribosomal subunit. When the anticodon of the tRNA is bound to the initiation codon, the GTP on eIF2 is hydrolysed to GDP. The guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) eIF2B regenerates eIF2-GTP. eIF2 and eIF2B are multisubunit/multidomain protein complexes. Because information regarding the interface between each complex is limited, particularly the interface on the eIF2γ subunit, which binds the guanine-nucleotides and Met-tRNAiMet, interactions between the minimal GEF domain of eIF2Bε, εGEF, and eIF2 were mapped using mutagenesis and an in vitro cysteine cross-linking approach, with the cross-linker Mts-Atf-Biotin. Site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) was used to mutate five N-terminal and five C-terminal surface-exposed εGEF residues to cysteines. The mutant alleles were analysed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and it was found that the gcd6-R574C allele was lethal and the gcd6-T572C was Gcd-. Further gcd6-R574 mutant alleles were also found to be lethal in yeast but expressed in vivo.εGEF-R574C has dramatically reduced GEF activity in vitro and binding assays showed that this mutant has significantly reduced affinity for eIF2. The εGEF-T572C and εGEF-S576C mutants also have severe and minor eIF2-binding defects respectively, while the C-terminal εGEF-Cys mutants have slightly reduced affinity for eIF2. The N-terminal εGEF-Cys mutants cross-link specifically to eIF2γ, while the C-terminal εGEF-Cys mutants interact predominantly with eIF2β. From the data obtained in this study, we propose a new model for eIF2B-mediated guanine-nucleotide exchange that reduces the importance of eIF2β and suggests εGEF resembles other GEFs in binding primarily to its G protein partner eIF2γ.

Axonal protein synthesis is rapidly regulated by extrinsic cues during neural wiring but the full landscape of proteomic changes and their translational control mechanisms remain unknown. The ability to investigate the nascent proteome on subcellular compartments has been hampered by the low sensitivity of existing methodology on quantity-limited samples combined with the difficulty of obtaining sufficient amounts of pure material. By combining pulsed Stable Isotope Labelling by Amino acids in Cell culture (pSILAC) with Single-Pot Solid-Phase-enhanced Sample Preparation (SP3), I have established an approach to characterize the nascent proteome from quantity-limited somaless retinal axons (~2μg) on an unparalleled rapid time-scale (5 min). The results show that a surprisingly large number of proteins (>350) is translated constitutively in axons, many of which are linked to neurological disease. Axons stimulated by different cues (Netrin-1, BDNF, Sema3A) each show a signature set of up/down newly synthesised protein (NSP) changes (>100) within 5 min. Remarkably, conversion of Netrin-1-induced responses from repulsion to attraction triggers opposite translational regulation for 73% of a common subset corresponding to >100 NSPs. Further, I show that pharmacological increase in cAMP, known to induce chemoattractive response, also leads to rapid and wide-scale remodelling of the nascent axonal proteome (~100 NSP changes). I find that the cAMP-elicited NSP changes underlie the attractive turning but are distinct from those induced by the physiological chemoattractant Netrin-1, suggesting that the same type of chemotropic response can be mediated by different protein synthesis-dependent mechanisms. Finally, I show that Sema3A, but not Slit1, triggers a physiological and non-canonical PERK-eIF2α-eIF2B signalling pathway required in neural wiring to elicit the rapid (< 15 min) local translation control of a specific subset of NSPs. Collectively my findings lead to the general conclusion that guidance molecules rapidly induce cue-specific remodelling of the nascent axonal proteome via distinct regulatory mechanisms.