Ribosome assembly factors prevent premature translation initiation by 40S assembly intermediates

Science. 2011 Sep 9;333(6048):1449-53. doi: 10.1126/science.1208245. Epub 2011 Aug 11.

Abstract

Ribosome assembly in eukaryotes requires approximately 200 essential assembly factors (AFs) and occurs through ordered events that initiate in the nucleolus and culminate in the cytoplasm. Here, we present the electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of a late cytoplasmic 40S ribosome assembly intermediate from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 18 angstrom resolution. We obtained cryo-EM reconstructions of preribosomal complexes lacking individual components to define the positions of all seven AFs bound to this intermediate. These late-binding AFs are positioned to prevent each step in the translation initiation pathway. Together, they obstruct the binding sites for initiation factors, prevent the opening of the messenger RNA channel, block 60S subunit joining, and disrupt the decoding site. These redundant mechanisms probably ensure that pre-40S particles do not enter the translation pathway, which would result in their rapid degradation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-1 / chemistry
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-1 / metabolism
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3 / chemistry
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3 / metabolism
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Methyltransferases / chemistry
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • RNA, Fungal / genetics
  • RNA, Fungal / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Ribosomal Proteins / chemistry
  • Ribosomal Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribosome Subunits, Small, Eukaryotic / chemistry
  • Ribosome Subunits, Small, Eukaryotic / metabolism*
  • Ribosome Subunits, Small, Eukaryotic / ultrastructure
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-1
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3
  • LTV1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • NOB1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Ribosomal Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • eukaryotic peptide initiation factor-1A
  • DIM1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Methyltransferases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Rio2 protein, S cerevisiae