Structure of a 30S pre-initiation complex stalled by GE81112 reveals structural parallels in bacterial and eukaryotic protein synthesis initiation pathways.

ABSTRACT: In bacteria, the start site and the reading frame of the messenger RNA are selected by the small ribosomal subunit (30S) when the start codon, typically an AUG, is decoded in the P-site by the initiator tRNA in a process guided and controlled by three initiation factors. This process can be efficiently inhibited by GE81112, a natural tetrapeptide antibiotic that is highly specific toward bacteria. Here GE81112 was used to stabilize the 30S pre-initiation complex and obtain its structure by cryo-electron microscopy. The results obtained reveal the occurrence of changes in both the ribosome conformation and initiator tRNA position that may play a critical role in controlling translational fidelity. Furthermore, the structure highlights similarities with the early steps of initiation in eukar

SUBMITTER: Lopez-Alonso JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5389724 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature