Structures of Naked Mole-Rat, Tuco-Tuco, and Guinea Pig Ribosomes-Is rRNA Fragmentation Linked to Translational Fidelity?

ABSTRACT: Ribosomes are central to protein synthesis in all organisms. Among mammals, the ribosome functional core is highly conserved. Remarkably, two rodent species, the naked mole-rat (NMR) and tuco-tuco display fragmented 28S rRNA, coupled with high translational fidelity and long lifespan. The unusual ribosomal architecture in the NMR and tuco-tuco has been speculated to be linked to high translational fidelity. Here we show, by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), that despite the fragmentation of their rRNA, NMR and tuco-tuco ribosomes retain their core functional architecture. Compared to ribosomes of the guinea pig, a phylogenetically related rodent without 28S rRNA fragmentation, ribosomes of NMR and tuco-tuco exhibit poorly resolved, certain expansion segments. In contrast,

SUBMITTER: Gutierrez-Vargas C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12324441 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature