This collection of papers is devoted to the study of hypusine research. It explores the status of research on hypusine formation, a post-translational modification occurring in archaebacteria and eukaryotic cells, but not in eubacteria.

This collection of papers is devoted to the study of hypusine research. It explores the status of research on hypusine formation, a post-translational modification occurring in archaebacteria and eukaryotic cells, but not in eubacteria. Only one cellular protein, the eukaryotic initiator factor 5A (elF-5A), is known to contain the modified amino acid residue termed hypusine. Molecular genetics and pharmalogical studies indicate that this modification is essential for cell survival and proliferation. It has also been implicated as a cofactor in the action of HIV-1 viral protein Rev. Several laboratories have initiated efforts to exploit hypusine formation as a potential target site for cancer and AIDS chemotherapy. The major challenge is to define precisely the physiological role of elF-5A in cell growth regulation.

Biochemistry and function of hypusine formation on eukaryotic initiation factor 5A, K.Y. Chen and A.Y.-C. Liu
growth of studies on hypusine in biological systems, S.S. Cohen
hypusine is essential for eukaryotic cell proliferation, M.H. Park et al
eukaryotic initiation factor 5A activity and HIV-1 rev function, D. Bevec and J. Hauber
two distinct pathways for intronless mRNA expression - one related, the other unrelated to human immunodeficiency virus rev and human T cell leukaemia virus type 1 rex functions, T. Kiyokawa et al
effects of inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis on the subcellular distribution of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor, elF-5A, and the HIV-1 rev protein, X.-P. Shi et al
cellular eukaryotic initiation factor 5A content as a mediator of polyamine effects of growth and apoptotis, M.E. Tome and E.W. Gerner
novel features of the functional site and expression of the yeast deoxhypusine synthase, Md.R. Abid et al
Y.P. interaction of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 rev response element RNA and U6 snRNA requires deoxhypusine or hypusine modification, Y.P. Liu et al.