The ribosome as a molecular machine: the mechanism of tRNA-mRNA movement in translocation
2011 | conference paper; research paper. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.
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The ribosome as a molecular machine: the mechanism of tRNA-mRNA movement in translocation
Rodnina, M. & Wintermeyer, W. (2011)
Biochemical Society transactions pp. 658-662. 8th International Meeting on Recognition Studies in Nucleic Acids, Univ Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
London: Portland Press Ltd. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0390658
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Details
- Authors
- Rodnina, Marina ; Wintermeyer, Wolfgang
- Abstract
- Translocation of tRNA and mRNA through the ribosome is one of the most dynamic events during protein synthesis. In the cell, translocation is catalysed by EF-G (elongation factor G) and driven by GTP hydrolysis. Major unresolved questions are: how the movement is induced and what the moving parts of the ribosome are. Recent progress in time-resolved cryoelectron microscopy revealed trajectories of tRNA movement through the ribosome. Driven by thermal fluctuations, the ribosome spontaneously samples a large number of conformational states. The spontaneous movement of tRNAs through the ribosome is loosely coupled to the motions within the ribosome. EF-G stabilizes conformational states prone to translocation and promotes a conformational rearrangement of the ribosome (unlocking) that accelerates the rate-limiting step of translocation: the movement of the tRNA anticodons on the small ribosomal subunit. EF-G acts as a Brownian ratchet providing directional bias for movement at the cost of GTP hydrolysis.
- Issue Date
- 2011
- Publisher
- Portland Press Ltd
- Conference
- 8th International Meeting on Recognition Studies in Nucleic Acids
- Conference Place
- Univ Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Event start
- 2010-09-12
- Event end
- 2010-09-16
- ISSN
- 0300-5127
- Language
- English