The mRNA Codon Environment at the P and E Sites of Human Ribosomes Deduced from Photocrosslinking with pUUUGUU Derivatives

Three mRNA analogs—derivatives of hexaribonucleotide pUUUGUU comprising phenylalanine and valine codons with a perfluoroarylazido group attached to the C5 atom of the uridine residue at the first, second, or third position—were used for photocrosslinking with 80S ribosomes from human placenta. The mRNA analogs were positioned on the ribosome with tRNA recognizing these codons: UUU was at the P site if tRNAPhe was used, while tRNAVal was used to put there the GUU codon (UUU at the E site). Thus, the crosslinking group of mRNA analog might occupy positions –3 to +3 with respect to the first nucleotide of the codon at the P site. Irradiation of the complexes with mild UV light (λ > 280 nm) resulted in the crosslinking of pUUUGUU derivatives with 18S RNA and proteins in the ribosome small subunit. The crosslinking with rRNA was observed only in the presence of tRNA. The photoactivatable group in positions –1 to +3 binds to G1207, while that in positions –2 or –3 binds to G961 of 18S RNA. In all cases, we observed crosslinking with S2 and S3 proteins irrespective of the presence of tRNA in the complex. Crosslinking with S23 and S26 proteins was observed mainly in the presence of tRNA when modified nucleotide occupied the +1 position (for both proteins) or the –3 position (for S26 protein). The crosslinking with S5/S7 proteins was substantial when modified nucleotide was in the –3 position, this crosslinking was not observed in the absence of tRNA.