Cryo-electron microscopy snapshots of the spliceosome: structural insights into a dynamic ribonucleoprotein machine.

ABSTRACT: The spliceosome excises introns from pre-messenger RNAs using an RNA-based active site that is cradled by a dynamic protein scaffold. A recent revolution in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has led to near-atomic-resolution structures of key spliceosome complexes that provide insight into the mechanism of activation, splice site positioning, catalysis, protein rearrangements and ATPase-mediated dynamics of the active site. The cryo-EM structures rationalize decades of observations from genetic and biochemical studies and provide a molecular framework for future functional studies.

SUBMITTER: Fica SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6386135 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature