Recombinant Francisella tularensis subsp. mediasiatica Translation initiation factor IF-2 (infB), partial
Description
Introduction
Recombinant Francisella tularensis subsp. mediasiatica Translation Initiation Factor IF-2 (infB), partial is a protein involved in the initiation of bacterial protein synthesis. IF-2 facilitates the binding of the initiator tRNA to the ribosome, a critical step in translation. While F. tularensis subsp. mediasiatica is a rare subspecies primarily found in Central Asia and Siberia, its molecular mechanisms remain understudied compared to the more pathogenic subspecies tularensis and holarctica . This article synthesizes available data on IF-2’s role, focusing on functional insights from genomic and proteomic studies.
Functional Role in Francisella tularensis
IF-2 interacts with multiple proteins critical for bacterial survival:
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Stress Response: IF-2 co-purifies with MoxR (a stress-related ATPase) and TPR1 (a chaperone), suggesting its role in maintaining protein homeostasis under stress .
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Metabolic Integration: Proteomic studies show IF-2 associates with enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, including pyruvate dehydrogenase (SucA) and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (Figure 1) .
Key Interactions
Genetic Deletion Studies
Deletion of moxR or tpr1 (genes interacting with IF-2) in F. tularensis subsp. holarctica results in:
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Reduced pyruvate dehydrogenase activity ().
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Impaired intracellular survival in macrophages ( reduction in colony-forming units) .
Stress Resistance
IF-2 is upregulated under iron-limited conditions, a common stressor during infection. This aligns with broader metabolic adaptations in Francisella, where iron acquisition systems (e.g., feoB, fsl operon) are co-regulated with translation machinery .
Product Specs
Target Background
KEGG: ftm:FTM_0114
