Independent in vitro assembly of all three major morphological parts of the 30S ribosomal subunit of Thermus thermophilus

Many bacteria possess surface layers (S-layers) that consist of a two-dimensional protein lattice external to the cell envelope. These S-layer arrays are usually composed of a single species of protein or glycoprotein and are not covalently linked to the underlying cell wall. When removed from the cell, S-layer proteins often reassemble into a lattice identical to that found on the cell, even without supporting cell wall fragments. S-layers exist at the interface between the cell and its environment and probably serve as molecular sieves that exclude destructive macromolecules while allowing passage of small nutrients and secreted proteins. Some S-layers are refractory to ingestion by macrophages and, generally, bacteria are more virulent when S-layers are present.When grown in rich medium under aerobic conditions, B. anthracis strain Delta Sterne-1 secretes large amounts of a proteinaceous extractable antigen 1 (EA1) into the growth medium. Immunocytochemistry with rabbit polyclonal anti-EAl antibody made against the secreted protein and gold-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG showed that EAI was localized at the cell surface (fig 1), which suggests its role as an S-layer protein.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Crystal structure of the 30 S ribosomal subunit from Thermus thermophilus: structure of the proteins and their interactions with 16 S RNA.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1005747.68905 ◽

2002 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen Holbrook

Keyword(s):

Crystal Structure ◽

Thermus Thermophilus ◽

Ribosomal Subunit

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Structural basis of GTPase-mediated mitochondrial ribosome biogenesis and recycling

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-23702-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hauke S. Hillen ◽

Elena Lavdovskaia ◽

Franziska Nadler ◽

Elisa Hanitsch ◽

Andreas Linden ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ribosomal Proteins ◽

Ribosome Biogenesis ◽

Ribosomal Subunit ◽

Structural Basis ◽

Peptidyl Transferase ◽

Mitochondrial Ribosomes ◽

Mitochondrial Ribosome ◽

In Vitro Reconstitution

AbstractRibosome biogenesis requires auxiliary factors to promote folding and assembly of ribosomal proteins and RNA. Particularly, maturation of the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) is mediated by conserved GTPases, but the molecular basis is poorly understood. Here, we define the mechanism of GTPase-driven maturation of the human mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit (mtLSU) using endogenous complex purification, in vitro reconstitution and cryo-EM. Structures of transient native mtLSU assembly intermediates that accumulate in GTPBP6-deficient cells reveal how the biogenesis factors GTPBP5, MTERF4 and NSUN4 facilitate PTC folding. Addition of recombinant GTPBP6 reconstitutes late mtLSU biogenesis in vitro and shows that GTPBP6 triggers a molecular switch and progression to a near-mature PTC state. Additionally, cryo-EM analysis of GTPBP6-treated mature mitochondrial ribosomes reveals the structural basis for the dual-role of GTPBP6 in ribosome biogenesis and recycling. Together, these results provide a framework for understanding step-wise PTC folding as a critical conserved quality control checkpoint.

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