EF-G or elongation factor G (historically known as translocase) is one of the prokaryotic elongation factors

Prokaryotic elongation factors

In prokaryotes, three elongation factors are required for translation: EF-Tu, EF-Ts, and EF-G.*EF-Tu mediates the entry of the aminoacyl tRNA into a free site of the ribosome....

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Function

The factor EF-G catalyzes the translocation of the tRNA and mRNA down the ribosome at the end of each round of polypeptide elongation. Homologous to EF-Tu + tRNA, EF-G also binds to the ribosome in its GTP-bound state. When it associates with the A site, EF-G causes the tRNA previously occupying that site to occupy an intermediate A/P position (bound to the A site of the small ribosomal subunit and to the P site of the large subunit), and the tRNA in the P site is shifted to a P/E hybrid state. EF-G hydrolysis of GTP causes a conformation change that forces the A/P tRNA to fully occupy the P site, the P/E tRNA to fully occupy the E site (and exit the ribosome complex), and the mRNA to shift three nucleotides down relative to the ribosome due to its association with these tRNA molecules. The GDP-bound EF-G molecule then dissociates from the complex, leaving another free A-site where the elongation cycle can start again.

Apart from its role in translocation, EF-G, working together with Ribosome Recycling Factor

Ribosome Recycling Factor

Ribosome Recycling Factor is a protein found in bacterial cells as well as eukaryotic organelles, specifically mitochondria and chloroplasts. It functions to recycle ribosomes after completion of protein synthesis.- Discovery :...

promotes ribosome recycling in a GTP-dependent manner .

Evolution

EF-G has a complex evolutionary history, with numerous paralogous versions of the factor present in bacteria, suggesting subfunctionalization of different EF-G variants .