A time-resolved investigation of ribosomal subunit association.
The notion that the ribosome is dynamic has been supported by various biochemical techniques, as well as by differences observed in high-resolution structures of ribosomal complexes frozen in various functional states. Yet, the mechanisms and extent of rRNA dynamics are still largely unknown. We have used a novel, fast chemical-modification technique to provide time-resolved details of 16 S rRNA structural changes that occur as bridges are formed between the ribosomal subunits as they associate. Association of different 16 S rRNA regions was found to be a sequential, multi-step process involving conformational rearrangements within the 30 S subunit. Our results suggest that key regions of 16 S rRNA, necessary for decoding and tRNA A-site binding, are structurally altered in a time-dependent manner by association with the 50 S ribosomal subunits.
Hennelly
Scott P
SP
Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
Antoun
Ayman
A
Ehrenberg
Måns
M
Gualerzi
Claudio O
CO
Knight
William
W
Lodmell
J Stephen
JS
Hill
Walter E
WE
D020029:Base Pairing; D001665:Binding Sites; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012343:RNA, Transfer