Synonyms
Definition
The ribosome is the central component of the protein synthesis machinery in the cell. It contains both RNA and protein and is composed of two subunits. Ribosomes are essential for accurate translation of the mRNA-encoded genetic message; they biosynthesize proteins by catalyzing the peptide bond formation between tRNA-bound amino acids.
Overview
Ribosomes are composed of about 65 % RNA and 35 % proteins distributed into a small and a large subunit. In contrast to the ribosomal proteins (r-proteins), the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) has been highly conserved during evolution and contains numerous posttranscriptional modifications and peculiar structural features like pseudo-knots and other RNA-RNA tertiary interactions. Ribosomes are present in all organisms from the three domains of life (Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya) and in two eukaryotic organelles originated by ancient endosymbiosis of bacteria (mitochondrion and chloroplast).
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References and Further Reading
Burkhardt N, Junemann R, Spahn CM, Nierhaus KH (1998) Ribosomal tRNA binding sites: three-site models of translation. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 33(2):95–149
Frank J, Spahn CMT (2006) The ribosome and the mechanism of protein synthesis. Rep Prog Phys 69:1383–1417
Harris EH, Boynton JE, Gillham NW (1994) Chloroplast ribosomes and protein synthesis. Microbiol Rev 58(4):700–754
Korostelev A, Noller HF (2007) The ribosome in focus: new structures bring new insights. Trends Biochem Sci 32(9):434–441
Moore PB, Steitz TA (2005) The ribosome revealed. Trends Biochem Sci 30(6):281–283
Nierhaus KH, Wilson DN (eds) (2004) Protein synthesis and ribosome structure. Translating the genome. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim
Ogle JM, Ramakrishnan V (2005) Structural insights into translational fidelity. Annu Rev Biochem 74:129–177
Spahn CM, Beckmann R, Eswar N, Penczek PA, Sali A, Blobel G, Frank J (2001) Structure of the 80 S ribosome from saccharomyces cerevisiae-tRNA- ribosome and subunit-subunit interactions. Cell 107(3):373–386
Vazquez D (1979) Inhibitors of protein synthesis. Mol Biol Biochem Biophys 30:1–312
Yonath A (2005) Antibiotics targeting ribosomes: resistance, selectivity, synergism and cellular regulation. Annu Rev Biochem 74:649–679
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Ballesta, J.P.G. (2015). Ribosome. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1382
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1382
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