Crystal Structure of the Eukaryotic Ribosome

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2010-11, Vol.330 (6008), p.1203-1209
• Main Authors: Ben-Shem, Adam, Jenner, Lasse, Yusupova, Gulnara, Yusupov, Marat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Crystal structure; Crystalline structure; Crystallization; Crystallography, X-Ray; Crystals; Eukaryotic cells; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Life Sciences; Mathematical models; Messenger RNA; Models, Molecular; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular biophysics; Molecular genetics; Networks; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational; Prokaryotes; Protein Binding; Protein Biosynthesis; Protein Conformation; Protein synthesis; Proteins; Ratcheting; RESEARCH ARTICLE; Ribosomal Proteins - analysis; Ribosomal Proteins - chemistry; Ribosomal Proteins - metabolism; Ribosome Subunits, Large, Eukaryotic - chemistry; Ribosome Subunits, Large, Eukaryotic - metabolism; Ribosome Subunits, Large, Eukaryotic - ultrastructure; Ribosome Subunits, Small, Eukaryotic - chemistry; Ribosome Subunits, Small, Eukaryotic - metabolism; Ribosome Subunits, Small, Eukaryotic - ultrastructure; Ribosomes; Ribosomes - chemistry; Ribosomes - metabolism; Ribosomes - ultrastructure; RNA; RNA, Fungal - analysis; RNA, Fungal - chemistry; RNA, Fungal - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Messenger - chemistry; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA, Ribosomal - analysis; RNA, Ribosomal - chemistry; RNA, Ribosomal - metabolism; RNA, Transfer - chemistry; RNA, Transfer - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - chemistry; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - ultrastructure; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - analysis; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - chemistry; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - metabolism; Structure in molecular biology; Transfer RNA; Translation. Translation factors. Protein processing; Translations; Yeasts
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1194294

Crystal structures of prokaryotic ribosomes have described in detail the universally conserved core of the translation mechanism. However, many facets of the translation process in eukaryotes are not shared with prokaryotes. The crystal structure of the yeast 80S ribosome determined at 4.15 angstrom resolution reveals the higher complexity of eukaryotic ribosomes, which are 40% larger than their bacterial counterparts. Our model shows how eukaryote-specific elements considerably expand the network of interactions within the ribosome and provides insights into eukaryote-specific features of protein synthesis. Our crystals capture the ribosome in the ratcheted state, which is essential for translocation of mRNA and transfer RNA (tRNA), and in which the small ribosomal subunit has rotated with respect to the large subunit. We describe the conformational changes in both ribosomal subunits that are involved in ratcheting and their implications in coordination between the two associated subunits and in mRNA and tRNA translocation.