InterPro domain: IPR045044

In prokaryotes, the elongation phase of protein biosynthesis is controlled by three elongation factors (EFs), EF-Tu, EF-G and EF-Ts. This entry includes the bacterial EF-Gs and eukaryotic mitochondrial EFG1 (mtEFG1) proteins.

Eukaryotic cells harbour two protein synthesis systems: one is localized in the cytoplasm, the other is found in the mitochondria. Ribosomes localized in the mitochondrial matrix are responsible for translating mitochondrial mRNA transcribed from mitochondrial DNA. There are two forms of mtEFG present in mammals (designated mtEFG1s and mtEFG2s); mtEFG2s are not present in this group [ 1 ]. Mutants in yeast mtEFG1 have been shown to impaired mitochondrial protein synthesis, respiratory defects and a tendency to lose mitochondrial DNA [ 2 ].

1. Identification and characterization of two novel human mitochondrial elongation factor genes, hEFG2 and hEFG1, phylogenetically conserved through evolution. Hum. Genet. 109, 542-50
2. Mitochondrial translational-initiation and elongation factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Eur. J. Biochem. 201, 643-52