Crystal structure of a translation termination complex formed with release factor RF2

Mechanism of premature translation termination on a sense codon

Accurate translation termination by release factors (RFs) is critical for the integrity of cellular proteomes. Premature termination on sense codons, for example, results in truncated proteins, whose accumulation could be detrimental to the cell. Nevertheless, some sense codons are prone to triggering premature termination, but the structural basis for this is unclear. To investigate premature termination, we determined a cryo-EM structure of the Escherichia coli 70S ribosome bound with RF1 in response to a UAU (Tyr) sense codon. The structure reveals that RF1 recognizes a UAU codon similarly to a UAG stop codon, suggesting that sense codons induce premature termination because they structurally mimic a stop codon. Hydrophobic interaction between the nucleobase of U3 (the third position of the UAU codon) and conserved Ile-196 in RF1 is important for misreading the UAU codon. Analyses of RNA binding in ribonucleoprotein complexes or by amino acids reveal that Ile-U packing is a frequent protein-RNA-binding motif with key functional implications. We discuss parallels with eukaryotic translation termination by the release factor eRF1.

Dynamics of ribosomes and release factors during translation termination in E. coli

Release factors RF1 and RF2 promote hydrolysis of peptidyl-tRNA during translation termination. The GTPase RF3 promotes recycling of RF1 and RF2. Using single molecule FRET and biochemical assays, we show that ribosome termination complexes that carry two factors, RF1–RF3 or RF2–RF3, are dynamic and fluctuate between non-rotated and rotated states, whereas each factor alone has its distinct signature on ribosome dynamics and conformation. Dissociation of RF1 depends on peptide release and the presence of RF3, whereas RF2 can dissociate spontaneously. RF3 binds in the GTP-bound state and can rapidly dissociate without GTP hydrolysis from termination complex carrying RF1. In the absence of RF1, RF3 is stalled on ribosomes if GTP hydrolysis is blocked. Our data suggest how the assembly of the ribosome–RF1–RF3–GTP complex, peptide release, and ribosome fluctuations promote termination of protein synthesis and recycling of the release factors.

Inside cells, molecular machines called ribosomes make proteins using messenger RNA as a template. However, the template contains more than just the information needed to create the protein. A ‘stop codon’ in the mRNA marks where the ribosome should stop. When this is reached a group of proteins called release factors removes the newly made protein from the ribosome.

Bacteria typically have three types of release factors. RF1 and RF2 recognize the stop codon, and RF3 helps to release RF1 or RF2 from the ribosome so that it can be recycled to produce another protein. It was not fully understood how the release factors interact with the ribosome and how this terminates protein synthesis.

Adio et al. used TIRF microscopy to study individual ribosomes from the commonly studied bacteria species Escherichia coli. This technique allows researchers to monitor movements of the ribosome and record how release factors bind to it. The results of the experiments performed by Adio et al. show that although RF1 and RF2 are very similar to each other, they interact with the ribosome in different ways. In addition, only RF1 relies upon RF3 to release it from the ribosome; RF2 can release itself. RF3 releases RF1 by forcing the ribosome to change shape. RF3 then uses energy produced by the breakdown of a molecule called GTP to help release itself from the ribosome.

Most importantly, the findings presented by Adio et al. highlight that the movements of ribosomes and release factors during termination are only loosely coupled rather than occur in a set order. Other molecular machines are likely to work in a similar way. The results could also help us to understand the molecular basis of several human diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis, that result from ribosomes not recognizing stop codons in the mRNA.

Conformational Control of Translation Termination on the 70S Ribosome

Translation termination ensures proper lengths of cellular proteins. During termination, release factor (RF) recognizes a stop codon and catalyzes peptide release. Conformational changes in RF are thought to underlie accurate translation termination. However, structural studies of ribosome termination complexes have only captured RFs in a conformation that is consistent with the catalytically active state. Here, we employ a hyper-accurate RF1 variant to obtain crystal structures of 70S termination complexes that suggest a structural pathway for RF1 activation. We trapped RF1 conformations with the catalytic domain outside of the peptidyl-transferase center, while the codon-recognition domain binds the stop codon. Stop-codon recognition induces 30S decoding-center rearrangements that precede accommodation of the catalytic domain. The separation of codon recognition from the opening of the catalytic domain suggests how rearrangements in RF1 and in the ribosomal decoding center coordinate stop-codon recognition with peptide release, ensuring accurate translation termination.

RNA Structural Dynamics As Captured by Molecular Simulations: A Comprehensive Overview

With both catalytic and genetic functions, ribonucleic acid (RNA) is perhaps the most pluripotent chemical species in molecular biology, and its functions are intimately linked to its structure and dynamics. Computer simulations, and in particular atomistic molecular dynamics (MD), allow structural dynamics of biomolecular systems to be investigated with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. We here provide a comprehensive overview of the fast-developing field of MD simulations of RNA molecules. We begin with an in-depth, evaluatory coverage of the most fundamental methodological challenges that set the basis for the future development of the field, in particular, the current developments and inherent physical limitations of the atomistic force fields and the recent advances in a broad spectrum of enhanced sampling methods. We also survey the closely related field of coarse-grained modeling of RNA systems. After dealing with the methodological aspects, we provide an exhaustive overview of the available RNA simulation literature, ranging from studies of the smallest RNA oligonucleotides to investigations of the entire ribosome. Our review encompasses tetranucleotides, tetraloops, a number of small RNA motifs, A-helix RNA, kissing-loop complexes, the TAR RNA element, the decoding center and other important regions of the ribosome, as well as assorted others systems. Extended sections are devoted to RNA-ion interactions, ribozymes, riboswitches, and protein/RNA complexes. Our overview is written for as broad of an audience as possible, aiming to provide a much-needed interdisciplinary bridge between computation and experiment, together with a perspective on the future of the field.

Operative Binding of Class I Release Factors and YaeJ Stabilizes the Ribosome in the Nonrotated State

During translation, the small subunit of the ribosome rotates with respect to the large subunit primarily between two states as mRNA is being translated into a protein. At the termination of bacterial translation, class I release factors (RFs) bind to a stop codon in the A-site and catalyze the release of the peptide chain from the ribosome. Periodically, mRNA is truncated prematurely, and the translating ribosome stalls at the end of the mRNA forming a nonstop complex requiring one of several ribosome rescue factors to intervene. One factor, YaeJ, is structurally homologous with the catalytic region of RFs but differs by binding to the ribosome directly through its C-terminal tail. Structures of the ribosome show that the ribosome adopts the nonrotated state conformation when these factors are bound. However, these studies do not elucidate the influence of binding to cognate or noncognate codons on the dynamics of intersubunit rotation. Here, we investigate the effects of wild-type and mutant forms of RF1, RF2, and YaeJ binding on ribosome intersubunit rotation using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer. We show that both RF1 binding and RF2 binding are sufficient to shift the population of posthydrolysis ribosome complexes from primarily the rotated to the nonrotated state only when a cognate stop codon is present in the A-site. Similarly, YaeJ binding stabilizes nonstop ribosomal complexes in the nonrotated state. Along with previous studies, these results are consistent with the idea that directed conformational changes and binding of subsequent factors to the ribosome are requisite for efficient termination and ribosome recycling.

Post-termination Ribosome Intermediate Acts as the Gateway to Ribosome Recycling

During termination of translation, the nascent peptide is first released from the ribosome, which must be subsequently disassembled into subunits in a process known as ribosome recycling. In bacteria, termination and recycling are mediated by the translation factors RF, RRF, EF-G, and IF3, but their precise roles have remained unclear. Here, we use single-molecule fluorescence to track the conformation and composition of the ribosome in real time during termination and recycling. Our results show that peptide release by RF induces a rotated ribosomal conformation. RRF binds to this rotated intermediate to form the substrate for EF-G that, in turn, catalyzes GTP-dependent subunit disassembly. After the 50S subunit departs, IF3 releases the deacylated tRNA from the 30S subunit, thus preventing reassembly of the 70S ribosome. Our findings reveal the post-termination rotated state as the crucial intermediate in the transition from termination to recycling.

Conformation of methylated GGQ in the Peptidyl Transferase Center during Translation Termination

The universally conserved Gly-Gly-Gln (GGQ) tripeptide in release factors or release factor-like surveillance proteins is required to catalyze the release of nascent peptide in the ribosome. The glutamine of the GGQ is methylated post-translationally at the N⁵ position in vivo; this covalent modification is essential for optimal cell growth and efficient translation termination. However, the precise conformation of the methylated-GGQ tripeptide in the ribosome remains unknown. Using cryoEM and X-ray crystallography, we report the conformation of methylated-GGQ in the peptidyl transferase center of the ribosome during canonical translational termination and co-translation quality control. It has been suggested that the GGQ motif arose independently through convergent evolution among otherwise unrelated proteins that catalyze peptide release. The requirement for this tripeptide in the highly conserved peptidyl transferase center suggests that the conformation reported here is likely shared during termination of protein synthesis in all domains of life.

Atomic mutagenesis of stop codon nucleotides reveals the chemical prerequisites for release factor-mediated peptide release

Termination of protein synthesis is triggered by the recognition of a stop codon at the ribosomal A site and is mediated by class I release factors (RFs). Whereas in bacteria, RF1 and RF2 promote termination at UAA/UAG and UAA/UGA stop codons, respectively, eukaryotes only depend on one RF (eRF1) to initiate peptide release at all three stop codons. Based on several structural as well as biochemical studies, interactions between mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA have been proposed to be required for stop codon recognition. In this study, the influence of these interactions was investigated by using chemically modified stop codons. Single functional groups within stop codon nucleotides were substituted to weaken or completely eliminate specific interactions between the respective mRNA and RFs. Our findings provide detailed insight into the recognition mode of bacterial and eukaryotic RFs, thereby revealing the chemical groups of nucleotides that define the identity of stop codons and provide the means to discriminate against noncognate stop codons or UGG sense codons.

Quantifying the Relationship between Single-Molecule Probes and Subunit Rotation in the Ribosome

A major challenge in the study of biomolecular assemblies is to identify reaction coordinates that precisely monitor conformational rearrangements. This is central to the interpretation of single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements, where the observed dynamics depends on the labeling strategy. As an example, different probes of subunit rotation in the ribosome have provided qualitatively distinct descriptions. In one study, changes in fluorescence suggested that the 30S body undergoes a single rotation/back-rotation cycle during the process of mRNA-tRNA translocation. In contrast, an alternate assay implicated the presence of reversible rotation events before completing translocation. For future single-molecule experiments to unambiguously measure the relationship between subunit rotation and translocation, it is necessary to rationalize these conflicting descriptions. To this end, we have simulated hundreds of spontaneous subunit rotation events (≈8°) using a residue-level coarse-grained model of the ribosome. We analyzed nine different reaction coordinates and found that the apparently inconsistent measurements are likely a consequence of ribosomal flexibility. Further, we propose a metric for quantifying the degree of energetic coupling between experimentally measured degrees of freedom and subunit rotation. This analysis provides a physically grounded framework that can guide the development of more precise single-molecule techniques.

Crystal structure of eukaryotic ribosome and its complexes with inhibitors

A high-resolution structure of the eukaryotic ribosome has been determined and has led to increased interest in studying protein biosynthesis and regulation of biosynthesis in cells. The functional complexes of the ribosome crystals obtained from bacteria and yeast have permitted researchers to identify the precise residue positions in different states of ribosome function. This knowledge, together with electron microscopy studies, enhances our understanding of how basic ribosome processes, including mRNA decoding, peptide bond formation, mRNA, and tRNA translocation and cotranslational transport of the nascent peptide, are regulated. In this review, we discuss the crystal structure of the entire 80S ribosome from yeast, which reveals its eukaryotic-specific features, and application of X-ray crystallography of the 80S ribosome for investigation of the binding mode for distinct compounds known to inhibit or modulate the protein-translation function of the ribosome. We also refer to a challenging aspect of the structural study of ribosomes, from higher eukaryotes, where the structures of major distinctive features of higher eukaryote ribosome-the high-eukaryote-specific long ribosomal RNA segments (about 1MDa)-remain unresolved. Presently, the structures of the major part of these high-eukaryotic expansion ribosomal RNA segments still remain unresolved.This article is part of the themed issue 'Perspectives on the ribosome'.

Uniformity of Peptide Release Is Maintained by Methylation of Release Factors

Termination of protein synthesis on the ribosome is catalyzed by release factors (RFs), which share a conserved glycine-glycine-glutamine (GGQ) motif. The glutamine residue is methylated in vivo, but a mechanistic understanding of its contribution to hydrolysis is lacking. Here, we show that the modification, apart from increasing the overall rate of termination on all dipeptides, substantially increases the rate of peptide release on a subset of amino acids. In the presence of unmethylated RFs, we measure rates of hydrolysis that are exceptionally slow on proline and glycine residues and approximately two orders of magnitude faster in the presence of the methylated factors. Structures of 70S ribosomes bound to methylated RF1 and RF2 reveal that the glutamine side-chain methylation packs against 23S rRNA nucleotide 2451, stabilizing the GGQ motif and placing the side-chain amide of the glutamine toward tRNA. These data provide a framework for understanding how release factor modifications impact termination.

Origin of the omnipotence of eukaryotic release factor 1

Termination of protein synthesis on the ribosome requires that mRNA stop codons are recognized with high fidelity. This is achieved by specific release factor proteins that are very different in bacteria and eukaryotes. Hence, while there are two release factors with overlapping specificity in bacteria, the single omnipotent eRF1 release factor in eukaryotes is able to read all three stop codons. This is particularly remarkable as it is able to select three out of four combinations of purine bases in the last two codon positions. With recently determined 3D structures of eukaryotic termination complexes, it has become possible to explore the origin of eRF1 specificity by computer simulations. Here, we report molecular dynamics free energy calculations on these termination complexes, where relative eRF1 binding free energies to different cognate and near-cognate codons are evaluated. The simulations show a high and uniform discrimination against the near-cognate codons, that differ from the cognate ones by a single nucleotide, and reveal the structural mechanisms behind the precise decoding by eRF1.

The eukaryotic release factor eRF1 is able to recognize the three stop codons UAA, UAG and UGA with high accuracy, while discriminating against near-cognate codons. Here the authors use molecular dynamic simulation to provide insight into the molecular basis behind the remarkable codon specificity of eRF1.

Structure of RNA polymerase bound to ribosomal 30S subunit

In bacteria, mRNA transcription and translation are coupled to coordinate optimal gene expression and maintain genome stability. Coupling is thought to involve direct interactions between RNA polymerase (RNAP) and the translational machinery. We present cryo-EM structures of E. coli RNAP core bound to the small ribosomal 30S subunit. The complex is stable under cell-like ionic conditions, consistent with functional interaction between RNAP and the 30S subunit. The RNA exit tunnel of RNAP aligns with the Shine-Dalgarno-binding site of the 30S subunit. Ribosomal protein S1 forms a wall of the tunnel between RNAP and the 30S subunit, consistent with its role in directing mRNAs onto the ribosome. The nucleic-acid-binding cleft of RNAP samples distinct conformations, suggesting different functional states during transcription-translation coupling. The architecture of the 30S•RNAP complex provides a structural basis for co-localization of the transcriptional and translational machineries, and inform future mechanistic studies of coupled transcription and translation.

Identification of potential allosteric communication pathways between functional sites of the bacterial ribosome by graph and elastic network models

BACKGROUND

Accumulated evidence indicates that bacterial ribosome employs allostery throughout its structure for protein synthesis. The nature of the allosteric communication between remote functional sites remains unclear, but the contact topology and dynamics of residues may play role in transmission of a perturbation to distant sites.

METHODS/RESULTS

We employ two computationally efficient approaches - graph and elastic network modeling to gain insights about the allosteric communication in ribosome. Using graph representation of the structure, we perform k-shortest pathways analysis between peptidyl transferase center-ribosomal tunnel, decoding center-peptidyl transferase center - previously reported functional sites having allosteric communication. Detailed analysis on intact structures points to common and alternative shortest pathways preferred by different states of translation. All shortest pathways capture drug target sites and allosterically important regions. Elastic network model further reveals that residues along all pathways have the ability of quickly establishing pair-wise communication and to help the propagation of a perturbation in long-ranges during functional motions of the complex.

CONCLUSIONS

Contact topology and inherent dynamics of ribosome configure potential communication pathways between functional sites in different translation states. Inter-subunit bridges B2a, B3 and P-tRNA come forward for their high potential in assisting allostery during translation. Especially B3 emerges as a potential druggable site.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

This study indicates that the ribosome topology forms a basis for allosteric communication, which can be disrupted by novel drugs to kill drug-resistant bacteria. Our computationally efficient approach not only overlaps with experimental evidence on allosteric regulation in ribosome but also proposes new druggable sites.

Structure-Based Energetics of Stop Codon Recognition by Eukaryotic Release Factor

In translation termination, the eukaryotic release factor (eRF1) recognizes mRNA stop codons (UAA, UAG, or UGA) in a ribosomal A site and triggers release of the nascent polypeptide chain from P-site tRNA. eRF1 is highly selective for U in the first position and a combination of purines (except two consecutive guanines, i.e., GG) in the second and third positions. Eukaryotes decode all three stop codons with a single release factor eRF1, instead of two (RF1 and RF2), in bacteria. Furthermore, unlike bacterial RF1/RF2, eRF1 stabilizes the compact U-turn mRNA configuration in the ribosomal A site by accommodating four nucleotides instead of three. Despite the available cryo-EM structures (resolution ∼3.5-3.8 Å), the energetic principle for eRF1 selectivity toward a stop codon remains a fundamentally unsolved problem. Using cryo-EM structures of eukaryotic translation termination complexes as templates, we carried out molecular dynamics free energy simulations of cognate and near-cognate complexes to quantitatively address the energetics of stop codon recognition by eRF1. Our results suggest that eRF1 has a higher discriminatory power against sense codons, compared to that reported earlier for RF1/RF2. The compact mRNA formed specific intra-mRNA interactions, which itself contributed to stop codon specificity. Furthermore, the specificity is enhanced by the loss of protein-mRNA interactions and, most importantly, by desolvation of the incorrect codons in the near-cognate complexes. Our work provides a clue to how eRF1 discriminates between cognate and near-cognate codons during protein synthesis.

R213I mutation in release factor 2 (RF2) is one step forward for engineering an omnipotent release factor in bacteria Escherichia coli

The current understanding of the specificity of the bacterial class I release factors (RFs) in decoding stop codons has evolved beyond a simple tripeptide anticodon model. A recent molecular dynamics study for deciphering the principles for specific stop codon recognition by RFs identified Arg-213 as a crucial residue on Escherichia coli RF2 for discriminating guanine in the third position (G3). Interestingly, Arg-213 is highly conserved in RF2 and substituted by Ile-196 in the corresponding position in RF1. Another similar pair is Leu-126 in RF1 and Asp-143 in RF2, which are also conserved within their respective groups. With the hypothesis that replacement of Arg-213 and Asp-143 with the corresponding RF1 residues will reduce G3 discrimination by RF2, we swapped these residues between E. coli RF1 and RF2 by site-directed mutagenesis and characterized their preference for different codons using a competitive peptide release assay. Among these, the R213I mutant of RF2 showed 5-fold improved reading of the RF1-specific UAG codon relative to UAA, the universal stop codon, compared with the wild type (WT). In-depth fast kinetic studies revealed that the gain in UAG reading by RF2 R213I is associated with a reduced efficiency of termination on the cognate UAA codon. Our work highlights the notion that stop codon recognition involves complex interactions with multiple residues beyond the PXT/SPF motifs. We propose that the R213I mutation in RF2 brings us one step forward toward engineering an omnipotent RF in bacteria, capable of reading all three stop codons.

Structural Basis for Ribosome Rescue in Bacteria

Ribosomes that translate mRNAs lacking stop codons become stalled at the 3' end of the mRNA. Recycling of these stalled ribosomes is essential for cell viability. In bacteria three ribosome rescue systems have been identified so far, with the most ubiquitous and best characterized being the trans-translation system mediated by transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA) and small protein B (SmpB). The two additional rescue systems present in some bacteria employ alternative rescue factor (Arf) A and release factor (RF) 2 or ArfB. Recent structures have revealed how ArfA mediates ribosome rescue by recruiting the canonical termination factor RF2 to ribosomes stalled on truncated mRNAs. This now provides us with the opportunity to compare and contrast the available structures of all three bacterial ribosome rescue systems.

Ensemble cryo-EM elucidates the mechanism of translation fidelity

Gene translation depends on accurate decoding of mRNA, the structural mechanism of which remains poorly understood. Ribosomes decode mRNA codons by selecting cognate aminoacyl-tRNAs delivered by elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu). Here we present high-resolution structural ensembles of ribosomes with cognate or near-cognate aminoacyl-tRNAs delivered by EF-Tu. Both cognate and near-cognate tRNA anticodons explore the aminoacyl-tRNA-binding site (A site) of an open 30S subunit, while inactive EF-Tu is separated from the 50S subunit. A transient conformation of decoding-centre nucleotide G530 stabilizes the cognate codon-anticodon helix, initiating step-wise 'latching' of the decoding centre. The resulting closure of the 30S subunit docks EF-Tu at the sarcin-ricin loop of the 50S subunit, activating EF-Tu for GTP hydrolysis and enabling accommodation of the aminoacyl-tRNA. By contrast, near-cognate complexes fail to induce the G530 latch, thus favouring open 30S pre-accommodation intermediates with inactive EF-Tu. This work reveals long-sought structural differences between the pre-accommodation of cognate and near-cognate tRNAs that elucidate the mechanism of accurate decoding.

Ribosome rearrangements at the onset of translational bypassing

Bypassing is a recoding event that leads to the translation of two distal open reading frames into a single polypeptide chain. We present the structure of a translating ribosome stalled at the bypassing take-off site of gene 60 of bacteriophage T4. The nascent peptide in the exit tunnel anchors the P-site peptidyl-tRNA^Gly to the ribosome and locks an inactive conformation of the peptidyl transferase center (PTC). The mRNA forms a short dynamic hairpin in the decoding site. The ribosomal subunits adopt a rolling conformation in which the rotation of the small subunit around its long axis causes the opening of the A-site region. Together, PTC conformation and mRNA structure safeguard against premature termination and read-through of the stop codon and reconfigure the ribosome to a state poised for take-off and sliding along the noncoding mRNA gap.

Dynamic basis of fidelity and speed in translation: Coordinated multistep mechanisms of elongation and termination

As the universal machine that transfers genetic information from RNA to protein, the ribosome synthesizes proteins with remarkably high fidelity and speed. This is a result of the accurate and efficient decoding of mRNA codons via multistep mechanisms during elongation and termination stages of translation. These mechanisms control how the correct sense codon is recognized by a tRNA for peptide elongation, how the next codon is presented to the decoding center without change of frame during translocation, and how the stop codon is discriminated for timely release of the nascent peptide. These processes occur efficiently through coupling of chemical energy expenditure, ligand interactions, and conformational changes. Understanding this coupling in detail required integration of many techniques that were developed in the past two decades. This multidisciplinary approach has revealed the dynamic nature of translational control and uncovered how external cellular factors such as tRNA abundance and mRNA modifications affect the synthesis of the protein product. Insights from these studies will aid synthetic biology and therapeutic approaches to translation.

Mechanistic Insights Into Catalytic RNA-Protein Complexes Involved in Translation of the Genetic Code

The contemporary world is an "RNA-protein world" rather than a "protein world" and tracing its evolutionary origins is of great interest and importance. The different RNAs that function in close collaboration with proteins are involved in several key physiological processes, including catalysis. Ribosome-the complex megadalton cellular machinery that translates genetic information encoded in nucleotide sequence to amino acid sequence-epitomizes such an association between RNA and protein. RNAs that can catalyze biochemical reactions are known as ribozymes. They usually employ general acid-base catalytic mechanism, often involving the 2'-OH of RNA that activates and/or stabilizes a nucleophile during the reaction pathway. The protein component of such RNA-protein complexes (RNPCs) mostly serves as a scaffold which provides an environment conducive for the RNA to function, or as a mediator for other interacting partners. In this review, we describe those RNPCs that are involved at different stages of protein biosynthesis and in which RNA performs the catalytic function; the focus of the account is on highlighting mechanistic aspects of these complexes. We also provide a perspective on such associations in the context of proofreading during translation of the genetic code. The latter aspect is not much appreciated and recent works suggest that this is an avenue worth exploring, since an understanding of the subject can provide useful insights into how RNAs collaborate with proteins to ensure fidelity during these essential cellular processes. It may also aid in comprehending evolutionary aspects of such associations.

Small methyltransferase RlmH assembles a composite active site to methylate a ribosomal pseudouridine

Eubacterial ribosomal large-subunit methyltransferase H (RlmH) methylates 23S ribosomal RNA pseudouridine 1915 (Ψ1915), which lies near the ribosomal decoding center. The smallest member of the SPOUT superfamily of methyltransferases, RlmH lacks the RNA recognition domain found in larger methyltransferases. The catalytic mechanism of RlmH enzyme is unknown. Here, we describe the structures of RlmH bound to S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) and the methyltransferase inhibitor sinefungin. Our structural and biochemical studies reveal catalytically essential residues in the dimer-mediated asymmetrical active site. One monomer provides the SAM-binding site, whereas the conserved C-terminal tail of the second monomer provides residues essential for catalysis. Our findings elucidate the mechanism by which a small protein dimer assembles a functionally asymmetric architecture.

How the Ribosomal A-Site Finger Can Lead to tRNA Species-Dependent Dynamics

Proteins are synthesized by the joint action of the ribosome and tRNA molecules, where the rate of synthesis can be affected by numerous factors, such as the concentration of tRNA, the binding affinity of tRNA for the ribosome, or post-transcriptional modifications. Here, we expand this range of contributors by demonstrating how differences in tRNA structure can give rise to tRNA species-specific dynamics in the ribosome. To show this, we perform simulations of A/P hybrid-state formation for two tRNA species (tRNA^Phe and tRNA^Leu), which differ in the size of their variable loops (VLs). These calculations reveal that steric interactions between the VL and the ribosomal A-site finger (ASF, i.e., H38 of 23S rRNA) can directly modulate the free-energy landscape for each tRNA species. We also find that tRNA and ASF motions are highly correlated, where fluctuations of the ASF are predictive of tRNA transition events. Finally, by introducing perturbations to the model, we demonstrate that ASF flexibility is a determinant of the rate of A/P hybrid-state formation.

Mechanism of ribosome rescue by ArfA and RF2

ArfA rescues ribosomes stalled on truncated mRNAs by recruiting release factor RF2, which normally binds stop codons to catalyze peptide release. We report two 3.2 Å resolution cryo-EM structures – determined from a single sample – of the 70S ribosome with ArfA•RF2 in the A site. In both states, the ArfA C-terminus occupies the mRNA tunnel downstream of the A site. One state contains a compact inactive RF2 conformation. Ordering of the ArfA N-terminus in the second state rearranges RF2 into an extended conformation that docks the catalytic GGQ motif into the peptidyl-transferase center. Our work thus reveals the structural dynamics of ribosome rescue. The structures demonstrate how ArfA ‘senses’ the vacant mRNA tunnel and activates RF2 to mediate peptide release without a stop codon, allowing stalled ribosomes to be recycled.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23687.001

Structural basis of co-translational quality control by ArfA and RF2 bound to ribosome

Quality control mechanisms intervene appropriately when defective translation events occur, in order to preserve the integrity of protein synthesis. Rescue of ribosomes translating on messenger RNAs that lack stop codons is one of the co-translational quality control pathways. In many bacteria, ArfA recognizes stalled ribosomes and recruits the release factor RF2, which catalyses the termination of protein synthesis. Although an induced-fit mechanism of nonstop mRNA surveillance mediated by ArfA and RF2 has been reported, the molecular interaction between ArfA and RF2 in the ribosome that is responsible for the mechanism is unknown. Here we report an electron cryo-microscopy structure of ArfA and RF2 in complex with the 70S ribosome bound to a nonstop mRNA. The structure, which is consistent with our kinetic and biochemical data, reveals the molecular interactions that enable ArfA to specifically recruit RF2, not RF1, into the ribosome and to enable RF2 to release the truncated protein product in this co-translational quality control pathway. The positively charged C-terminal domain of ArfA anchors in the mRNA entry channel of the ribosome. Furthermore, binding of ArfA and RF2 induces conformational changes in the ribosomal decoding centre that are similar to those seen in other protein-involved decoding processes. Specific interactions between residues in the N-terminal domain of ArfA and RF2 help RF2 to adopt a catalytically competent conformation for peptide release. Our findings provide a framework for understanding recognition of the translational state of the ribosome by new proteins, and expand our knowledge of the decoding potential of the ribosome.

Translational termination without a stop codon

Ribosomes stall when they encounter the end of messenger RNA (mRNA) without an in-frame stop codon. In bacteria, these "nonstop" complexes can be rescued by alternative ribosome-rescue factor A (ArfA). We used electron cryomicroscopy to determine structures of ArfA bound to the ribosome with 3'-truncated mRNA, at resolutions ranging from 3.0 to 3.4 angstroms. ArfA binds within the ribosomal mRNA channel and substitutes for the absent stop codon in the A site by specifically recruiting release factor 2 (RF2), initially in a compact preaccommodated state. A similar conformation of RF2 may occur on stop codons, suggesting a general mechanism for release-factor-mediated translational termination in which a conformational switch leads to peptide release only when the appropriate signal is present in the A site.

Structural basis for ArfA-RF2-mediated translation termination on mRNAs lacking stop codons

In bacteria, ribosomes stalled on truncated mRNAs that lack a stop codon are rescued by the transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA), alternative rescue factor A (ArfA) or ArfB systems. Although tmRNA-ribosome and ArfB-ribosome structures have been determined, how ArfA recognizes the presence of truncated mRNAs and recruits the canonical termination release factor RF2 to rescue the stalled ribosomes is unclear. Here we present a cryo-electron microscopy reconstruction of the Escherichia coli 70S ribosome stalled on a truncated mRNA in the presence of ArfA and RF2. The structure shows that the C terminus of ArfA binds within the mRNA entry channel on the small ribosomal subunit, and explains how ArfA distinguishes between ribosomes that bear truncated or full-length mRNAs. The N terminus of ArfA establishes several interactions with the decoding domain of RF2, and this finding illustrates how ArfA recruits RF2 to the stalled ribosome. Furthermore, ArfA is shown to stabilize a unique conformation of the switch loop of RF2, which mimics the canonical translation termination state by directing the catalytically important GGQ motif within domain 3 of RF2 towards the peptidyl-transferase centre of the ribosome. Thus, our structure reveals not only how ArfA recruits RF2 to the ribosome but also how it promotes an active conformation of RF2 to enable translation termination in the absence of a stop codon.

Mechanistic insights into the alternative translation termination by ArfA and RF2

During cellular translation of messenger RNAs by ribosomes, the translation apparatus sometimes pauses or stalls at the elongation and termination steps. With the exception of programmed stalling, which is usually used by cells for regulatory purposes, ribosomes stalled on mRNAs need to be terminated and recycled to maintain adequate translation capacity. Much ribosome stalling originates in aberrant mRNAs that lack a stop codon. Transcriptional errors, misprocessing of primary transcripts, and undesired mRNA cleavage all contribute to the formation of non-stop mRNAs. Ribosomes stalled at the 3' end of non-stop mRNAs do not undergo normal termination owing to the lack of specific stop-codon recognition by canonical peptide release factors at the A-site decoding centre. In bacteria, the transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA)-SmpB-mediated trans-translation rescue system reroutes stalled ribosomes to the normal elongation cycle and translation termination. Two additional rescue systems, ArfA-RF2 (refs 13, 14, 15, 16) and ArfB (formerly known as YaeJ), are also present in many bacterial species, but their mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, using cryo-electron microscopy, we characterize the structure of the Escherichia coli 70S ribosome bound with ArfA, the release factor RF2, a short non-stop mRNA and a cognate P-site tRNA. The C-terminal loop of ArfA occupies the mRNA entry channel on the 30S subunit, whereas its N terminus is sandwiched between the decoding centre and the switch loop of RF2, leading to marked conformational changes in both the decoding centre and RF2. Despite the distinct conformation of RF2, its conserved catalytic GGQ motif is precisely positioned next to the CCA-end of the P-site tRNA. These data illustrate a stop-codon surrogate mechanism for ArfA in facilitating the termination of non-stop ribosomal complexes by RF2.

Bacterial Protein Synthesis as a Target for Antibiotic Inhibition

Protein synthesis occurs on macromolecular machines, called ribosomes. Bacterial ribosomes and the translational machinery represent one of the major targets for antibiotics in the cell. Therefore, structural and biochemical investigations into ribosome-targeting antibiotics provide not only insight into the mechanism of action and resistance of antibiotics, but also insight into the fundamental process of protein synthesis. This review summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of protein synthesis, particularly with respect to X-ray and cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of ribosome complexes, and highlights the different steps of translation that are targeted by the diverse array of known antibiotics. Such findings will be important for the ongoing development of novel and improved antimicrobial agents to combat the rapid emergence of multidrug resistant pathogenic bacteria.

Capturing Transition States for tRNA Hybrid-State Formation in the Ribosome

In order to quantitatively describe the energetics of biomolecular rearrangements, it is necessary to identify reaction coordinates that accurately capture the relevant transition events. Here, we perform simulations of A-site tRNA movement (∼20 Å) during hybrid-state formation in the ribosome and quantify the ability of interatomic distances to capture the transition state ensemble. Numerous coordinates are found to be accurate indicators of the transition state, allowing tRNA rearrangements to be described as diffusion across a one-dimensional free-energy surface. In addition to providing insights into the physical-chemical relationship between biomolecular structure and dynamics, these results can help enable single-molecule techniques to probe the free-energy landscape of the ribosome.

Ribosome•RelA structures reveal the mechanism of stringent response activation

Stringent response is a conserved bacterial stress response underlying virulence and antibiotic resistance. RelA/SpoT-homolog proteins synthesize transcriptional modulators (p)ppGpp, allowing bacteria to adapt to stress. RelA is activated during amino-acid starvation, when cognate deacyl-tRNA binds to the ribosomal A (aminoacyl-tRNA) site. We report four cryo-EM structures of E. coli RelA bound to the 70S ribosome, in the absence and presence of deacyl-tRNA accommodating in the 30S A site. The boomerang-shaped RelA with a wingspan of more than 100 Å wraps around the A/R (30S A-site/RelA-bound) tRNA. The CCA end of the A/R tRNA pins the central TGS domain against the 30S subunit, presenting the (p)ppGpp-synthetase domain near the 30S spur. The ribosome and A/R tRNA are captured in three conformations, revealing hitherto elusive states of tRNA engagement with the ribosomal decoding center. Decoding-center rearrangements are coupled with the step-wise 30S-subunit 'closure', providing insights into the dynamics of high-fidelity tRNA decoding.

On the pathway of ribosomal translocation

The translocation of tRNAs coupled with mRNA in the ribosome is a critical process in the elongation cycle of protein synthesis. The translocation entails large-scale conformational changes of the ribosome and involves several intermediate states with tRNAs in different positions with respect to 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits. However, the detailed role of the intermediate states is unknown and the detailed mechanism and pathway of translocation is unclear. Here based on previous structural, biochemical and single-molecule data we present a translocation pathway by incorporating several intermediate states. With the pathway, we study theoretically (i) the kinetics of 30S head rotation associated with translocation catalyzed by wild-type EF-G, (ii) the dynamics of fluctuations between different tRNA states during translocation interfered with EF-G mutants and translocation-specific antibiotics, (iii) the kinetics of tRNA movement in 50S subunit and mRNA movement in 30S subunit in the presence of wild-type EF-G, EF-G mutants and translocation-specific antibiotics, (iv) the dynamics of EF-G sampling to the ribosome during translocation, etc., providing consistent and quantitative explanations of various available biochemical and single-molecule experimental data published in the literature. Moreover, we study the kinetics of 30S head rotation in the presence of EF-G mutants, providing predicted results. These have significant implications for the molecular mechanism and pathway of ribosomal translocation.

The molecular choreography of protein synthesis: translational control, regulation, and pathways

Translation of proteins by the ribosome regulates gene expression, with recent results underscoring the importance of translational control. Misregulation of translation underlies many diseases, including cancer and many genetic diseases. Decades of biochemical and structural studies have delineated many of the mechanistic details in prokaryotic translation, and sketched the outlines of eukaryotic translation. However, translation may not proceed linearly through a single mechanistic pathway, but likely involves multiple pathways and branchpoints. The stochastic nature of biological processes would allow different pathways to occur during translation that are biased by the interaction of the ribosome with other translation factors, with many of the steps kinetically controlled. These multiple pathways and branchpoints are potential regulatory nexus, allowing gene expression to be tuned at the translational level. As research focus shifts toward eukaryotic translation, certain themes will be echoed from studies on prokaryotic translation. This review provides a general overview of the dynamic data related to prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation, in particular recent findings with single-molecule methods, complemented by biochemical, kinetic, and structural findings. We will underscore the importance of viewing the process through the viewpoints of regulation, translational control, and heterogeneous pathways.

Re-exploration of the Codon Context Effect on Amber Codon-Guided Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids in Escherichia coli by the Blue-White Screening Assay

The effect of codon context on amber codon-guided incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (NAAs) has been previously examined by antibiotic selection. Here, we re-explored this effect by screening a library in which three nucleotides upstream and downstream of the amber codon were randomised, and inserted within the lacZ-α gene. Thousands of clones were obtained and distinguished by the depth of blue colour upon exposure to X-gal. Large-scale sequencing revealed remarkable preferences in nucleotides downstream of the amber codon, and moderate preferences for upstream nucleotides. Nucleotide preference was quantified by a dual-luciferase assay, which verified that the optimum context for NAA incorporation, AATTAGACT, was applicable to different proteins. Our work provides a general guide for engineering amber codons into genes of interest in bacteria.

Structural Basis for Translation Termination on a Pseudouridylated Stop Codon

Pseudouridylation of messenger RNA emerges as an abundant modification involved in gene expression regulation. Pseudouridylation of stop codons in eukaryotic and bacterial cells results in stop-codon read through. The structural mechanism of this phenomenon is not known. Here we present a 3.1-Å crystal structure of Escherichia coli release factor 1 (RF1) bound to the 70S ribosome in response to the ΨAA codon. The structure reveals that recognition of a modified stop codon does not differ from that of a canonical stop codon. Our in vitro biochemical results support this finding by yielding nearly identical rates for peptide release from E. coli ribosomes programmed with pseudouridylated and canonical stop codons. The crystal structure also brings insight into E. coli RF1-specific interactions and suggests involvement of L27 in bacterial translation termination. Our results are consistent with a mechanism in which read through of a pseudouridylated stop codon in bacteria results from increased decoding by near-cognate tRNAs (miscoding) rather than from decreased efficiency of termination.

Polypeptide release factors and stop codon recognition in the apicoplast and mitochondrion of Plasmodium falciparum

Correct termination of protein synthesis would be a critical step in translation of organellar open reading frames (ORFs) of the apicoplast and mitochondrion of the malaria parasite. We identify release factors (RFs) responsible for recognition of the UAA and UGA stop-codons of apicoplast ORFs and the sole UAA stop-codon that terminates translation from the three mitochondrial ORFs. A single nuclear-encoded canonical RF2, PfRF2Api , localizes to the apicoplast. It has a conserved tripeptide motif (SPF) for stop-codon recognition and is sufficient for peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis (PTH) from both UAA and UGA. Two RF family proteins are targeted to the parasite mitochondrion; a canonical RF1, PfRF1Mit , with a variant codon-recognition motif (PxN instead of the conserved RF1 PxT) is the major peptidyl-hydrolase with specific recognition of the UAA codon relevant to mitochondrial ORFs. Mutation of the N residue of the PfRF1Mit PxN motif and two other conserved residues of the codon recognition domain lowers PTH activity from pre-termination ribosomes indicating their role in codon-recognition. The second RF imported by the mitochondrion is the non-canonical PfICT1 that functions as a dimer and mediates codon nonspecific peptide release. Our results help delineate a critical step in organellar translation in Plasmodium, which is an important target for anti-malarials.

Intersubunit Bridges of the Bacterial Ribosome

The ribosome is a large two-subunit ribonucleoprotein machine that translates the genetic code in all cells, synthesizing proteins according to the sequence of the mRNA template. During translation, the primary substrates, transfer RNAs, pass through binding sites formed between the two subunits. Multiple interactions between the ribosomal subunits, termed intersubunit bridges, keep the ribosome intact and at the same time govern dynamics that facilitate the various steps of translation such as transfer RNA-mRNA movement. Here, we review the molecular nature of these intersubunit bridges, how they change conformation during translation, and their functional roles in the process.

Model of the pathway of -1 frameshifting: Kinetics

Programmed -1 translational frameshifting is a process where the translating ribosome shifts the reading frame, which is directed by at least two stimulatory elements in the mRNA-a slippery sequence and a downstream secondary structure. Despite a lot of theoretical and experimental studies, the detailed pathway and mechanism of the -1 frameshifting remain unclear. Here, in order to understand the pathway and mechanism we consider two models to study the kinetics of the -1 frameshifting, providing quantitative explanations of the recent biochemical data of Caliskan et al. (Cell 2014, 157, 1619-1631). One model is modified from that proposed by Caliskan et al. and the other is modified from that proposed in the previous work to explain the single-molecule experimental data. It is shown that by adjusting values of some fundamental parameters both models can give quantitative explanations of the biochemical data of Caliskan et al. on the kinetics of EF-G binding and dissociation and on the kinetics of movement of tRNAs inside the ribosome. However, for the former model some adjusted parameter values deviate significantly from those determined from the available single-molecule experiments, while for the latter model all parameter values are consistent with the available biochemical and single-molecule experimental data. Thus, the latter model most likely reflects the pathway and mechanism of the -1 frameshifting.

Ribosome Induces a Closed to Open Conformational Change in Release Factor 1

Bacterial translation termination is triggered when a stop codon arrives at the ribosomal A site. Stop codons are recognized by class I release factors (RF1 and RF2 in Escherichia coli), which bind to the ribosome and catalyze the release of the newly synthesized protein. Crystal structures showed that RF1 and RF2 are in an open conformation when bound to the ribosome but are in a closed conformation when not bound to the ribosome. It is not clear whether only the open form of RF1 and RF2 binds to the ribosome. Alternatively, the closed form of RF1 and RF2 may bind to the ribosome and undergo a conformational change to the open state upon binding. We used transition metal ion fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments to monitor precisely the conformation of RF1 in the absence and presence of the ribosome. Our results indicate that RF1 undergoes a large conformational change from a closed to an open form upon binding to the ribosome. Our results are consistent with the mechanism, in which high termination fidelity is achieved by linking stop codon recognition by RF1 to the change in conformation from closed to open state.

Peptide release promoted by methylated RF2 and ArfA in nonstop translation is achieved by an induced-fit mechanism

Here we report that the specificity of peptide release in the ribosome on a nonstop mRNA by ArfA and RF2 is achieved by an induced-fit mechanism. Using RF2 that is methylated on the glutamine of its GGQ motif (RF2(m)), we show that methylation substantially increases the rate of ArfA/RF2-catalyzed peptide release on a nonstop mRNA that does not occupy the ribosomal A site, but has only a modest effect on k(cat) by the same proteins on longer nonstop mRNAs occupying the A site of the mRNA channel in the ribosome. Our data suggest that enhancement in the kcat of peptide release by ArfA and RF2 under the cognate decoding condition is the result of favorable conformational changes in the nonstop complex. We demonstrate a shared mechanism between canonical and nonstop termination, supported by similarities in the kinetic mechanisms in antibiotic inhibition and methylation-correlated enhancement in the rate of peptide release. Despite these similarities, our data suggest that nonstop termination differs from canonical pathway in the downstream event of recycling.

Mechanisms of ribosome stalling by SecM at multiple elongation steps

Regulation of translating ribosomes is a major component of gene expression control network. In Escherichia coli, ribosome stalling by the C-terminal arrest sequence of SecM regulates the SecA-dependent secretion pathway. Previous studies reported many residues of SecM peptide and ribosome exit tunnel are critical for stalling. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is still not clear at the atomic level. Here, we present two cryo-EM structures of the SecM-stalled ribosomes at 3.3–3.7 Å resolution, which reveal two different stalling mechanisms at distinct elongation steps of the translation cycle: one is due to the inactivation of ribosomal peptidyl-transferase center which inhibits peptide bond formation with the incoming prolyl-tRNA; the other is the prolonged residence of the peptidyl-RNA at the hybrid A/P site which inhibits the full-scale tRNA translocation. These results demonstrate an elegant control of translation cycle by regulatory peptides through a continuous, dynamic reshaping of the functional center of the ribosome.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09684.001

Many genes code for proteins that carry out essential tasks. The instructions in a gene are first copied into a messenger RNA (mRNA), and a molecular machine known as a ribosome reads the copied instructions in groups of three letters at a time (called codons). The ribosome translates the order of the codons into a sequence of amino acids; each amino acid is carried into the ribosome by a transfer RNA (tRNA) molecule. As it translates, the ribosome joins each new amino acid to the one before it, like the links in a chain. Finally, the newly built protein chain passes through a tunnel to exit the ribosome. Ribosomes do not build all proteins at a constant rate; there are many examples of proteins that stall when they are in the ribosome exit tunnel. It is thought that this stalling is an important way for cells to control the expression of proteins.

SecM is a bacterial protein that stalls while it is being made. Previous research has shown that a sequence of amino acids in SecM (called the arrest sequence) interacts with components of the ribosome tunnel. This interaction leads to stalling, and regulates the translation of another important bacterial protein (called SecA) that is encoded downstream on the same mRNA as SecM. If SecM-induced stalling takes place, the translation of SecA actually increases. Nevertheless, it remains poorly understood how SecM stalls in the ribosome.

Zhang et al. have now solved the structures of SecM proteins stalled inside ribosomes using a method called cryo-electron microscopy. This approach identified two different states of SecM present in the ribosome, which corresponded to two different stalling mechanisms.

The addition of an amino acid to a growing protein occurs in stages. First, the tRNA that carries the amino acid to the ribosome and bind to it in a region known as the A-site. After this, the tRNA moves to the P-site where the attached amino acid is incorporated into the elongating protein chain. Zhang et al. observed that the arrest sequence of SecM and the ribosome tunnel interact extensively. These interactions are strong and alter the configuration of both the A-site and P-site of the ribosome. This has two major consequences for translation. First, the tRNA cannot be stably accommodated in the A-site and secondly, its passage to the P-site is slowed down. Both these mechanisms contribute to stalling.

This study provides a detailed analysis of how the ribosome can adjust to control translation. It also highlights that codon-specific control of translation constitutes an important component of how gene expression is regulated.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09684.002

HflX is a ribosome-splitting factor rescuing stalled ribosomes under stress conditions

Adverse cellular conditions often lead to nonproductive translational stalling and arrest of ribosomes on mRNAs. Here, we used fast kinetics and cryo-EM to characterize Escherichia coli HflX, a GTPase with unknown function. Our data reveal that HflX is a heat shock-induced ribosome-splitting factor capable of dissociating vacant as well as mRNA-associated ribosomes with deacylated tRNA in the peptidyl site. Structural data demonstrate that the N-terminal effector domain of HflX binds to the peptidyl transferase center in a strikingly similar manner as that of the class I release factors and induces dramatic conformational changes in central intersubunit bridges, thus promoting subunit dissociation. Accordingly, loss of HflX results in an increase in stalled ribosomes upon heat shock. These results suggest a primary role of HflX in rescuing translationally arrested ribosomes under stress conditions.

Ribosome Structure Reveals Preservation of Active Sites in the Presence of a P-Site Wobble Mismatch

Translation initiation in the P site occasionally occurs at atypical (non-AUG) start codons, including those forming a mismatch in the third (wobble) position. During elongation, however, a pyrimidine-pyrimidine wobble mismatch may trigger a translation quality-control mechanism, whereby the P-site mismatch is thought to perturb the downstream A-site codon or the decoding center, thereby reducing translation fidelity and inducing termination of aberrant translation. We report a crystal structure of the 70S initiation complex containing an AUC codon in the ribosomal P site. Remarkably, the ribosome stabilizes the mismatched codon-anticodon helix, arranging a normally disruptive cytosine-cytosine pair into a Watson-Crick-like conformation. Translation-competent conformations of the tRNA, mRNA, and decoding center suggest that a P-site wobble-position mismatch in the 70S initiation complex does not pre-arrange the mRNA or decoding center to favor subsequent miscoding events.

Structure of a human translation termination complex

In contrast to bacteria that have two release factors, RF1 and RF2, eukaryotes only possess one unrelated release factor eRF1, which recognizes all three stop codons of the mRNA and hydrolyses the peptidyl-tRNA bond. While the molecular basis for bacterial termination has been elucidated, high-resolution structures of eukaryotic termination complexes have been lacking. Here we present a 3.8 Å structure of a human translation termination complex with eRF1 decoding a UAA(A) stop codon. The complex was formed using the human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) stalling peptide, which perturbs the peptidyltransferase center (PTC) to silence the hydrolysis activity of eRF1. Moreover, unlike sense codons or bacterial stop codons, the UAA stop codon adopts a U-turn-like conformation within a pocket formed by eRF1 and the ribosome. Inducing the U-turn conformation for stop codon recognition rationalizes how decoding by eRF1 includes monitoring geometry in order to discriminate against sense codons.

The ribosome's energy landscape: Recent insights from computation

The ever-increasing capacity of computing resources has extended ribosome calculations from the study of small-scale fluctuations to large-scale barrier-crossing processes. As the field of computational/theoretical biophysics shifts focus to large-scale conformational transitions, there is a growing need for a systematic framework to interpret and analyze ribosome dynamics. To this end, energy landscape principles, largely developed for the study of biomolecular folding, have proven to be invaluable. These tools not only provide a foundation for describing simulations but can be used to reconcile experimental results, as well. In this review, I will discuss recent efforts to employ computational methods to reveal the characteristics of the ribosome's landscape and how these studies can help guide a new generation of experiments that more closely probe the underlying energetics. As a result of these investigations, general principles about ribosome function are beginning to emerge, including that: (1) small-scale fluctuations are the result of structure, rather than detailed energetics, (2) molecular flexibility leads to entropically favored rearrangements, and (3) tRNA dynamics may be accurately described as diffusive movement across an energy landscape.

Structural basis for stop codon recognition in eukaryotes

Termination of protein synthesis occurs when a translating ribosome encounters one of three universally conserved stop codons: UAA, UAG or UGA. Release factors recognize stop codons in the ribosomal A-site to mediate release of the nascent chain and recycling of the ribosome. Bacteria decode stop codons using two separate release factors with differing specificities for the second and third bases. By contrast, eukaryotes rely on an evolutionarily unrelated omnipotent release factor (eRF1) to recognize all three stop codons. The molecular basis of eRF1 discrimination for stop codons over sense codons is not known. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures at 3.5-3.8 Å resolution of mammalian ribosomal complexes containing eRF1 interacting with each of the three stop codons in the A-site. Binding of eRF1 flips nucleotide A1825 of 18S ribosomal RNA so that it stacks on the second and third stop codon bases. This configuration pulls the fourth position base into the A-site, where it is stabilized by stacking against G626 of 18S rRNA. Thus, eRF1 exploits two rRNA nucleotides also used during transfer RNA selection to drive messenger RNA compaction. In this compacted mRNA conformation, stop codons are favoured by a hydrogen-bonding network formed between rRNA and essential eRF1 residues that constrains the identity of the bases. These results provide a molecular framework for eukaryotic stop codon recognition and have implications for future studies on the mechanisms of canonical and premature translation termination.