InterPro domain: IPR001816

Translation elongation factors are responsible for two main processes during protein synthesis on the ribosome [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. EF1A (or EF-Tu) is responsible for the selection and binding of the cognate aminoacyl-tRNA to the A-site (acceptor site) of the ribosome. EF2 (or EF-G) is responsible for the translocation of the peptidyl-tRNA from the A-site to the P-site (peptidyl-tRNA site) of the ribosome, thereby freeing the A-site for the next aminoacyl-tRNA to bind. Elongation factors are responsible for achieving accuracy of translation and both EF1A and EF2 are remarkably conserved throughout evolution.

Elongation factor EF1B (also known as EF-Ts or EF-1beta/gamma/delta) is a nucleotide exchange factor that is required to regenerate EF1A from its inactive form (EF1A-GDP) to its active form (EF1A-GTP). EF1A is then ready to interact with a new aminoacyl-tRNA to begin the cycle again. EF1B is more complex in eukaryotes than in bacteria, and can consist of three subunits: EF1B-alpha (or EF-1beta), EF1B-gamma (or EF-1gamma) and EF1B-beta (or EF-1delta) [ 4 ].

This entry represents EF-Ts (EF1B) proteins found primarily in bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts.

1. Structural studies of eukaryotic elongation factors. Cold Spring Harb. Symp. Quant. Biol. 66, 425-37
2. Elongation factors on the ribosome. Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 15, 349-54
3. Elongation factors in protein biosynthesis. Trends Biochem. Sci. 28, 434-41