title: Architecture of the large subunit of the mammalian mitochondrial ribosome.
abstract: Mitochondrial ribosomes synthesize a number of highly hydrophobic proteins encoded on the genome of mitochondria, the organelles in eukaryotic cells that are responsible for energy conversion by oxidative phosphorylation. The ribosomes in mammalian mitochondria have undergone massive structural changes throughout their evolution, including ribosomal RNA shortening and acquisition of mitochondria-specific ribosomal proteins. Here we present the three-dimensional structure of the 39S large subunit of the porcine mitochondrial ribosome determined by cryo-electron microscopy at 4.9 Å resolution. The structure, combined with data from chemical crosslinking and mass spectrometry experiments, reveals the unique features of the 39S subunit at near-atomic resolution and provides detailed insight into the architecture of the polypeptide exit site. This region of the mitochondrial ribosome has been considerably remodelled compared to its bacterial counterpart, providing a specialized platform for the synthesis and membrane insertion of the highly hydrophobic protein components of the respiratory chain.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Schafmattstrasse 20, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland [2].
authors.forename: Basil J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Greber
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Schafmattstrasse 20, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland [2].
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boehringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 16, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leitner
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Schafmattstrasse 20, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Schafmattstrasse 20, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Voigts-Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Schafmattstrasse 20, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Erzberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Schafmattstrasse 20, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leibundgut
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 16, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland [2] Faculty of Science, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ruedi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aebersold
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Schafmattstrasse 20, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ban
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054657:Ribosome Subunits / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins