Eukaryotic ribosomal proteins lacking a eubacterial counterpart: important players in ribosomal function

Summary The ribosome is a macromolecular machine responsible for protein synthesis in all organisms. Despite the enormous progress in studies on the structure and function of prokaryotic ribosomes, the respective molecular details of the mechanism by which the eukaryotic ribosome and associated fact...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular microbiology 2006-03, Vol.59 (6), p.1651-1663
Main Authors: Dresios, John, Panopoulos, Panagiotis, Synetos, Dennis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Drug Design
Eukaryotes
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Microbiology
Neoplasms - metabolism
Pathology
Protein Conformation
Proteins
Ribosomal DNA
Ribosomal Proteins - chemistry
Ribosomal Proteins - metabolism
Ribosomes - metabolism
Ribosomes - ultrastructure
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
RNA, Ribosomal - metabolism
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - chemistry
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - metabolism
Virus Physiological Phenomena
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Summary:Summary The ribosome is a macromolecular machine responsible for protein synthesis in all organisms. Despite the enormous progress in studies on the structure and function of prokaryotic ribosomes, the respective molecular details of the mechanism by which the eukaryotic ribosome and associated factors construct a polypeptide accurately and rapidly still remain largely unexplored. Eukaryotic ribosomes possess more RNA and a higher number of proteins than eubacterial ribosomes. As the tertiary structure and basic function of the ribosomes are conserved, what is the contribution of these additional elements? Elucidation of the role of these components should provide clues to the mechanisms of translation in eukaryotes and help unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the differences between eukaryotic and eubacterial ribosomes. This article focuses on a class of eukaryotic ribosomal proteins that do not have a eubacterial homologue. These proteins play substantial roles in ribosomal structure and function, and in mRNA binding and nascent peptide folding. The role of these proteins in human diseases and viral expression, as well as their potential use as targets for antiviral agents is discussed.
ISSN:0950-382X
1365-2958
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05054.x