title: The evolving ribosome: from non-coded peptide bond formation to sophisticated translation machinery.
abstract: Structural analysis supported by biochemical, mutagenesis and computational evidence, revealed that the contemporary ribosome's active site is a universal symmetrical pocket made of ribosomal RNA. This pocket seems to be the remnant of the proto-ribosome, a dimeric RNA assembly evolved by gene duplication, capable of autonomously catalyzing peptide bond formation and non-coded amino acid polymerization.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davidovich
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belousoff
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bashan
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yonath
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides