The Structure of the Ribosome with Elongation Factor G Trapped in the Posttranslocational State

Abstract

Ribosomes Caught in Translation To synthesize proteins, the ribosome must select cognate transfer RNAs (tRNAs) based on base-pairing with the messenger RNA (mRNA) template (a process known as decoding), form a peptide bond, and then move the mRNA:tRNA assembly relative to the ribosome (a process known as translocation). Decoding and translocation require protein guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases), and, while high-resolution structures of the ribosome have greatly furthered our understanding of ribosome function, the detailed mechanism of these GTPases during the elongation cycle remains unclear. Two Research Articles now give a clearer view of these steps in bacterial protein synthesis (see the Perspective by Liljas ). Schmeing et al. (p. 688 , published online 15 October) present the crystal structure of the ribosome bound to Elongation factor-Tu (EF-Tu) and amino-acyl tRNA that gives insight into how EF-Tu contributes to accurate decoding. Gao et al. (p. 694 , published online 15 October) describe the crystal structure of the ribosome bound to Elongation factor-G (EF-G) trapped in a posttranslocation state by the antibiotic fusidic acid that gives insight into how EF-G functions in translocation.