Work

The structure of the yeast mitochondrial ribosome

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: Mitochondria have specialized ribosomes (mitoribosomes) dedicated to the expression of the genetic information encoded by their genomes. Here, using electron cryomicroscopy, we have determined the structure of the 75-component yeast mitoribosome to an overall resolution of 3.3 angstroms. The mitoribosomal small subunit has been built de novo and includes 15S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and 34 proteins, including 14 without homologs in the evolutionarily related bacterial ribosome. Yeast-specific rRNA and protein elements, including the acquisition of a putatively active enzyme, give the mitoribosome a distinct architecture compared to the mammalian mitoribosome. At an expanded messenger RNA channel exit, there is a binding platform for translational activators that regulate translation in yeast but not mammalian mitochondria. The structure provides insights into the evolution and species-specific specialization of mitochondrial translation.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.aal2415

Authors: Nirupa Desai, Alan Brown, Alexey Amunts, V. Ramakrishnan

Institutions: MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Stockholm University, Science for Life Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Agouron Institute, Wellcome Trust, Louis-Jeantet Foundation, Medical Research Council

Awards: G1956668798, To elucidate the structure of the mammalian mitochondrial ribosome attached to its translocon, G5524861217, Structure and function of ribosomes.