Structures of the human and Drosophila 80S ribosome

Nature. 2013 May 2;497(7447):80-5. doi: 10.1038/nature12104.

Abstract

Protein synthesis in all cells is carried out by macromolecular machines called ribosomes. Although the structures of prokaryotic, yeast and protist ribosomes have been determined, the more complex molecular architecture of metazoan 80S ribosomes has so far remained elusive. Here we present structures of Drosophila melanogaster and Homo sapiens 80S ribosomes in complex with the translation factor eEF2, E-site transfer RNA and Stm1-like proteins, based on high-resolution cryo-electron-microscopy density maps. These structures not only illustrate the co-evolution of metazoan-specific ribosomal RNA with ribosomal proteins but also reveal the presence of two additional structural layers in metazoan ribosomes, a well-ordered inner layer covered by a flexible RNA outer layer. The human and Drosophila ribosome structures will provide the basis for more detailed structural, biochemical and genetic experiments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • Drosophila melanogaster / chemistry*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / ultrastructure
  • Eukaryotic Cells
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Weight
  • Peptide Elongation Factor 2 / metabolism
  • RNA, Ribosomal / chemistry
  • RNA, Ribosomal / metabolism
  • RNA, Ribosomal / ultrastructure
  • RNA, Transfer / chemistry
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer / ultrastructure
  • Ribosomal Proteins / chemistry
  • Ribosomal Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Ribosomal Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribosomal Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Ribosome Subunits / chemistry
  • Ribosome Subunits / metabolism
  • Ribosome Subunits / ultrastructure
  • Ribosomes / chemistry*
  • Ribosomes / metabolism
  • Ribosomes / ultrastructure*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Peptide Elongation Factor 2
  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • Ribosomal Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Stm1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • RNA, Transfer

Associated data

  • PDB/3J38
  • PDB/3J39
  • PDB/3J3A
  • PDB/3J3B
  • PDB/3J3C
  • PDB/3J3D
  • PDB/3J3E
  • PDB/3J3F