InterPro domain: IPR041709

This entry represents the GTP-binding domain found in translation elongation factor EF-Tu and its homologues from bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts [ 1 ]. EF-Tu is one of several GTP-binding translation factors found in the larger family of GTP-binding elongation factors. The eukaryotic counterpart, eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 (eEF-1 alpha), is excluded from this entry. EF-Tu is one of the most abundant proteins in bacteria, as well as one of the most highly conserved, and in a number of species the gene is duplicated with identical function. When bound to GTP, EF-Tu can form a complex with any (correctly) aminoacylated tRNA except those for initiation and for selenocysteine, in which case EF-Tu is replaced by other factors. Transfer RNA is carried to the ribosome in these complexes for protein translation [ 2 ].

1. Refined structure of elongation factor EF-Tu from Escherichia coli. J. Mol. Biol. 223, 721-42
2. The importance of P-loop and domain movements in EF-Tu for guanine nucleotide exchange. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 21139-46