Dr. Nadejda Korneeva's Research Focus

Major Research Interests:
Regulation of protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells, interaction between initiation translation factors and RNA.

The initiation of most eukaryotic mRNAs involves the sequential recruitment of Met-tRNAi, mRNA, and the 60S ribosomal subunit to the 40S ribosomal subunit, catalyzed by various groups of initiation factors. One of the most highly regulated stets is the recruitment of mRNA, which requires recognition of the 5'-terminal m7GTP-containing cap and 3'-terminal poly(A) tract, unwinding of 5'-terminal secondary structure, and binding to the 43S initiation complex. These steps are mediated by members of the eIF4 group of initiation factors eIF4A, eIF4B, eIF4E, and eIF4G, as well as poly(A)-binding protein. We are studying the interaction between eIF4G, RNA helicase eIF4A and 40S-binding complex eIF3 using surface plasmon resonance and variety of chromatographic methods. Our data suggest that the binding of two molecules of eIF3 and eIF4A to the central region of eIF4G occurs cooperatively. We also show that binding of EIF3 and EIF4A to the central region of eIF4G is mutually cooperative. We are studying the modulation of ATPase and helicase activity of eIF4A by eIF4G. We suggest that a mechanism by which eIF4G stimulates the helicase activity of eIF4A by providing a high affinity-binding site for RNA.