Laboratory for Translation Structural Biology

Research Summary

We study three dimensional structures of the translation factors and/or the ribosome, mainly by X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. We focus on the structural analysis of the large complexes that function in the eukaryotic translational system, in order to reveal the complicated mechanisms of eukaryotic translation.

Crystal structure of S. pombe eIF2B

Cryo-EM structures of human eIF2-eIF2B complexes

Research Theme

• Structural biology on translational system in eukaryotes
• Development of the sample preparation methods suitable for the crystallization/cryo-EM analysis of macromolecular complexes

Main Publications List

• Yokoyama T, Machida K, Iwasaki W, et al.
  HCV IRES Captures an Actively Translating 80S Ribosome.
  Molecular cell 74. 1205-1214 (2019) doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.04.022
• Kashiwagi K, Yokoyama T, Nishimoto M, et al.
  Structural basis for eIF2B inhibition in integrated stress response.
  Science 364(6439). 495-499 (2019) doi: 10.1126/science.aaw4104
• Iwasaki S, Iwasaki W, Takahashi M, et.al.
  The translation inhibitor Rocaglamide targets a bimolecular cavity between eIF4A and polypurine RNA.
  Molecular Cell 73(4). 738-748.e9 (2019) doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.11.026
• Kashiwagi K, Takahashi M, Nishimoto M, et al.
  Crystal structure of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B.
  Nature 531. 122-125 (2016) doi: 10.1038/nature16991
• Kashiwagi K, Shigeta T, Imataka H, Ito T, Yokoyama S
  Expression, purification, and crystallization of Schizosaccharomyces pombe eIF2B.
  Journal of Structural and Functional Genomics 17(1). 33-38 (2016) doi: 10.1007/s10969-016-9203-3
• Ito T., Masuda I., Yoshida K., et al.
  Structural Basis for methyl-donor-dependent and sequence-specific binding to tRNA substrates by knotted methyltransferase TrmD
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 112. E4197-E4205 (2015) doi: 10.1073/pnas.1422981112
• Kuwasako K, Takahashi M, Unzai S, et al.
  RBFOX and SUP-12 sandwich a G base to cooperatively regulate tissue-specific splicing"
  Nature structural & molecular biology 21. 778-86 (2014) doi: 10.1038/nsmb.2870
• Kashiwagi K, Ito T, Yokoyama S.
  Crystal structure of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A from Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
  Journal of Structural and Functional Genomics 15. 125-130 (2014) doi: 10.1007/s10969-014-9177-y
• Ito T, Yokoyama S.
  Two enzymes bound to one transfer RNA assume alternative conformations for consecutive reactions
  Nature 467. 612-616 (2010) doi: 10.1038/nature09411
• Goto-Ito S, Ito T, Kuratani M, et al.
  Tertiary structure checkpoint at anticodon loop modification in tRNA functional maturation.
  Nature structural & molecular biology 16. 1109-1115 (2009) doi: 10.1038/nsmb.1653

All Publications

Member

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• 2019/08/09 Research How phosphorylation of eIF2 reduces protein synthesis
• 2019/03/08 Research Natural plant defense could lead to new personalized cancer therapy