Chromosomal assignment of the gene for human elongation factor 2.

Elongation factor 2 (EF-2), polypeptidyl -tRNA translocase, is an essential factor for protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells and Archebacteria . We isolated diphtheria toxin-resistant human primary embryo cells that contain EF-2 that cannot be ADP-ribosylated by diphtheria toxin and Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PA toxin). Somatic cell hybrids were constructed from mouse L cells and toxin-resistant human embryo cell mutants. Forty-one hybrid clones were isolated, of which 15 clones were resistant to PA toxin. Karyotypic analysis and isozyme studies revealed that there was an absolute correlation between human chromosome 19 and resistance to PA toxin in the hybrids. On subcloning of PA toxin-resistant hybrid cells, we obtained one PA toxin-resistant hybrid subclone containing human chromosome 19 as the only human chromosome. Furthermore, the resistance to PA toxin of hybrid cell strains was lost after infection with poliovirus, for which sensitivity is conferred by human chromosome 19. It was confirmed by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis that PA toxin resistance in hybrid cells was caused by the presence of EF-2 resistant to ADP-ribosylation by fragment A of diphtheria toxin. These facts suggest that the gene encoding EF-2 is located on human chromosome 19.