Insights into translational termination from the structure of RF2 bound to the ribosome

Science. 2008 Nov 7;322(5903):953-6. doi: 10.1126/science.1164840.

Abstract

The termination of protein synthesis occurs through the specific recognition of a stop codon in the A site of the ribosome by a release factor (RF), which then catalyzes the hydrolysis of the nascent protein chain from the P-site transfer RNA. Here we present, at a resolution of 3.5 angstroms, the crystal structure of RF2 in complex with its cognate UGA stop codon in the 70S ribosome. The structure provides insight into how RF2 specifically recognizes the stop codon; it also suggests a model for the role of a universally conserved GGQ motif in the catalysis of peptide release.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biocatalysis
  • Codon, Terminator* / chemistry
  • Codon, Terminator* / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Models, Molecular
  • Peptide Chain Termination, Translational*
  • Peptide Termination Factors / chemistry*
  • Peptide Termination Factors / metabolism
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism
  • Ribosome Subunits / chemistry
  • Ribosome Subunits / metabolism
  • Ribosomes / chemistry
  • Ribosomes / metabolism*
  • Thermus thermophilus / chemistry*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Codon, Terminator
  • Peptide Termination Factors
  • Peptides
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • peptide chain termination release factor 2
  • RNA, Transfer

Associated data

  • PDB/2JL5
  • PDB/2JL6
  • PDB/2JL7
  • PDB/2JL8