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The ribosome uses two active mechanisms to unwind messenger RNA during translation

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaohui Qu

    (Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single Molecule Biophysics and QB3 Institute, University of California
    University of California)

  • Jin-Der Wen

    (Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single Molecule Biophysics and QB3 Institute, University of California
    University of California
    Present address: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.)

  • Laura Lancaster

    (Cell and Developmental Biology and Center for Molecular Biology of RNA, University of California)

  • Harry F. Noller

    (Cell and Developmental Biology and Center for Molecular Biology of RNA, University of California)

  • Carlos Bustamante

    (Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single Molecule Biophysics and QB3 Institute, University of California
    University of California
    University of California)

  • Ignacio Tinoco

    (University of California)

Abstract

Open and shut case for mRNA Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a linear single-stranded molecule that folds into complex secondary structures by base pairing of stretches of complementary sequences. Translation of mRNA into protein by the ribosome requires disruption of this base pairing. In this study, Ignacio Tinoco and colleagues employ a single molecule approach to show that the ribosome has two mechanisms that assist in opening the structured regions of mRNAs; the choice of mechanism depends on whether the base-paired junction is in an open or closed state.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaohui Qu & Jin-Der Wen & Laura Lancaster & Harry F. Noller & Carlos Bustamante & Ignacio Tinoco, 2011. "The ribosome uses two active mechanisms to unwind messenger RNA during translation," Nature, Nature, vol. 475(7354), pages 118-121, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:475:y:2011:i:7354:d:10.1038_nature10126
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10126
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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Walbrun & Tianhe Wang & Michael Matthies & Petr Šulc & Friedrich C. Simmel & Matthias Rief, 2024. "Single-molecule force spectroscopy of toehold-mediated strand displacement," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Chen Bao & Mingyi Zhu & Inna Nykonchuk & Hironao Wakabayashi & David H. Mathews & Dmitri N. Ermolenko, 2022. "Specific length and structure rather than high thermodynamic stability enable regulatory mRNA stem-loops to pause translation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Kathrin Leppek & Gun Woo Byeon & Wipapat Kladwang & Hannah K. Wayment-Steele & Craig H. Kerr & Adele F. Xu & Do Soon Kim & Ved V. Topkar & Christian Choe & Daphna Rothschild & Gerald C. Tiu & Roger We, 2022. "Combinatorial optimization of mRNA structure, stability, and translation for RNA-based therapeutics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-22, December.

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