Messenger RNA conformations in the ribosomal E site revealed by X-ray crystallography.

Lasse Jenner (1) , Bernard Rees (1) , Marat M. Yusupov (1) , Gulnara Yusupova (1)

1 IGBMC - Institut de génétique et biologie moléculaire et cellulaire

A comparison of messenger RNA in X-ray crystal structures of 70S ribosomal complexes in the initiation, post-initiation and elongation states of translation shows distinct conformational differences in the exit (E) codon. Here, we present structural evidence indicating that, after the initiation event, the E codon nucleotides relax and form a classical A-helical conformation. This conformation is similar to that of the P and A codons, and is favourable for establishing Watson-Crick interactions with the anticodon of E-site transfer RNA.

Domaines: Biologie moléculaire

Lasse Jenner, Bernard Rees, Marat M. Yusupov, Gulnara Yusupova. Messenger RNA conformations in the ribosomal E site revealed by X-ray crystallography.. EMBO Reports, 2007, 8 (9), pp.846-50. ⟨10.1038/sj.embor.7401044⟩. ⟨hal-00189152⟩