Editor's Summary
1 December 2005
Ribosomes in the making
The 30S bacterial ribosome subunit contains 20 proteins and a 16S ribosomal RNA. Until now it has been impossible to follow the assembly of all these components, but a new pulse–chase protein labelling technique makes it possible to track the maturing 30S subunit. The data do not support the widely held view that there is a global, rate-determining change in conformation. Instead, the complex adopts a series of intermediate structures where the binding of each protein helps stabilize the final conformation. This work is a notable technical achievement with applicability to the assembly of many other large multi-component macromolecular complexes.
News and Views: Biophysics: Assembly line inspection
Many of the biochemical events that occur in a cell are performed by huge complexes of proteins and nucleic acids. A cunning approach promises to show how the components convene to make a functioning 'machine'.
Sarah A. Woodson
doi:10.1038/438566a
Article: An assembly landscape for the 30S ribosomal subunit
Megan W. T. Talkington, Gary Siuzdak and James R. Williamson
doi:10.1038/nature04261
Abstract | Full Text | PDF (446K) | Supplementary information