title: The ribosomal peptidyl transferase.
abstract: Peptide bond formation on the ribosome takes place in an active site composed of RNA. Recent progress of structural, biochemical, and computational approaches has provided a fairly detailed picture of the catalytic mechanism of the reaction. The ribosome accelerates peptide bond formation by lowering the activation entropy of the reaction due to positioning the two substrates, ordering water in the active site, and providing an electrostatic network that stabilizes the reaction intermediates. Proton transfer during the reaction appears to be promoted by a concerted proton shuttle mechanism that involves ribose hydroxyl groups on the tRNA substrate.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Biochemistry, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: Malte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beringer
authors.forename: Marina V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rodnina
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002384:Catalysis; D003460:Crystallization; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D012343:RNA, Transfer; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases