Protein folding on the ribosome.
In living systems, polypeptide chains are synthesised on ribosomes, molecular machines composed of over 50 protein and nucleic acid molecules. As nascent chains emerge from the ribosomal exit tunnel and into the cellular environment, the majority must fold into specific structures in order to function. In this article we discuss recent approaches designed to reveal how such folding occurs and review our current knowledge of this complex self-assembly process.
Cabrita
Lisa D
LD
Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Dobson
Christopher M
CM
Christodoulou
John
J
D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D017510:Protein Folding; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*