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Each cell in an organism possesses its own protein factories known as ribosomes. Every second, these enzyme complexes produce new proteins with messenger molecules (mRNA) from the cell nucleus as blueprints. In order to generate as many proteins as possible at the same time, several ribosomes cluster together to form an "industrial complex" - the polysome - and read simultaneously the same messenger molecule. Scientists at the Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry have now, for the first time, been able to reveal the three-dimensional structure of these complexes (Cell 23.1.2009).
In a polysome, the ribosomes are densely packed and exhibit preferred orientations: The small ribosomal subunits are orientated towards the inside of the polysome and the ribosomes are arranged either in a staggered or in a pseudo-helical structure (see figure). This arrangement ensures that the distance between nascent protein chains is maximized, thereby reducing the probability of intermolecular interactions that would give rise to aggregation and limit productive folding. Until now, the belief has been that specialised proteins, the so-called chaperones, would prevent protein misfolding. Against the background of the new findings, their function appears in a new light: "It appears possible that the main function of chaperones that interact with nascent polypeptide chains is not to suppress chain aggregation within polysomes, but rather to reduce intra-chain misfolding as well as aggregation between different polysomes in the crowded cellular environment", explains Ulrich Hartl, head of the "Cellular Biochemistry" department, who lead the project in cooperation with Wolfgang Baumeister, head of the "Molecular Structural Biology" department. Moreover, the spatial structure of the polysome enables the ribosomes to process the messenger molecule in the protected area within the polysome and to pass it on without detours. Thus, the architecture of the cellular protein factories facilitates an optimized work flow and increases the efficiency of protein folding.
Original Publication:
The Native 3D Organization of Bacterial Polysomes; Florian Brandt, Adrian H. Elcock, Stephanie A. Etchells, Julio O. Ortiz, F. Ulrich Hartl and Wolfgang Baumeister;
Cell, DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2008.11.016
Contact:
Florian Brandt
Max-Planck Institut für Biochemie
Am Klopferspitz 18
D-82152 Martinsried
Germany
mail: fbrandt@biochem.mpg.de
Dr. Monika Gödde
Public Relations
Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie
Am Klopferspitz 18
82152 Martinsried
phone: 089 - 8578 3882
mail: goedde@biochem.mpg.de
http://www.biochem.mpg.de/baumeister - Abteilung Molekulare Strukturbiologie
http://www.biochem.mpg.de/hartl - Abteilung Zelluläre Biochemie
http://www.biochem.mpg.de - Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie
Figure: The three dimensional strucuture of the polysome:Cryoelectron tomographic picture of two pol ...
Source: Florian Brandt, Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie
Criteria of this press release:
Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
transregional, national
Research results, Scientific Publications
English
Figure: The three dimensional strucuture of the polysome:Cryoelectron tomographic picture of two pol ...
Source: Florian Brandt, Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie
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