A detailed understanding of the mechanism of protein synthesis will ultimately depend on knowledge of the native structure of the ribosome. Towards this end we have investigated the low resolution structure of the eukaryotic ribosome embedded in frozen buffer, making use of a system in which the ribosomes crystallize naturally.The ribosomes in the cells of early chicken embryos form crystalline arrays when the embryos are cooled at 4°C. We have developed methods to isolate the stable unit of these arrays, the ribosome tetramer, and have determined conditions for the growth of two-dimensional crystals in vitro, Analysis of the proteins in the crystals by 2-D gel electrophoresis demonstrates the presence of all ribosomal proteins normally found in polysomes. There are in addition, four proteins which may facilitate crystallization. The crystals are built from two oppositely facing P4 layers and the predominant crystal form, accounting for >80% of the crystals, has the tetragonal space group P4212, X-ray diffraction of crystal pellets demonstrates that crystalline order extends to ~ 60Å.
In vitro synthesis of yeast ribosomal proteins