Cryo-EM reconstruction of the human 40S ribosomal subunit at 2.15 Å resolution
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: The chemical modification of ribosomal RNA and proteins is critical for ribosome assembly, for protein synthesis and may drive ribosome specialisation in development and disease. However, the inability to accurately visualise these modifications has limited mechanistic understanding of the role of these modifications in ribosome function. Here we report the 2.15 Å resolution cryo-EM reconstruction of the human 40S ribosomal subunit. We directly visualise post-transcriptional modifications within the 18S rRNA and four post-translational modifications of ribosomal proteins. Additionally, we interpret the solvation shells in the core regions of the 40S ribosomal subunit and reveal how potassium and magnesium ions establish both universally conserved and eukaryote-specific coordination to promote the stabilisation and folding of key ribosomal elements. This work provides unprecedented structural details for the human 40S ribosomal subunit that will serve as an important reference for unravelling the functional role of ribosomal RNA modifications.
Source: Nucleic Acids Research
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad194
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,630
Funders: Wellcome Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust/Institute of Cancer Research, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund, University of Cambridge, European Cooperation in Science and Technology, Ferring, Blood Cancer UK, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Medical Research Council, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge
Awards: G1371530140, G1451546198, G299057155, G339059223, An electron cryo-microscopy resource for macromolecular structure determination in the University of Cambridge, G4273598029, G4483131783, Molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic ribosome assembly, Cellular Medicine at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research., G5999869015, An advanced cryoEM instrument for the University of Cambridge
OpenAlex ID: W4353112023