The multisubunit eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3, among which the subunit b (eIF3b) is a major scaffold protein, plays essential roles in protein synthesis. Here, we report the crystal structure of the WD40 domain of Chaetomium thermophilum eIF3b, revealing a nine-bladed β-propeller fold. Sequence analysis indicates that this propeller architecture is common to all eIF3b orthologs. R...

In Escherichia coli, 12 distinct RNA structures within the transcripts encoding ribosomal proteins interact with specific ribosomal proteins to allow autogenous regulation of expression from large multi-gene operons, thus coordinating ribosomal protein biosynthesis across multiple operons. However, these RNA structures are typically not represented in the RNA Families Database or annotated in g...

Maintaining the appropriate balance between the small and large ribosomal subunits is critical for translation and cell growth. We previously identified the 40S ribosomal protein S2 (rpS2) as a substrate of the protein arginine methyltransferase 3 (RMT3) and reported a misregulation of the 40S/60S ratio in rmt3 deletion mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. For this study, using DNA microarrays...

Ribosomes are essential components of the protein translation machinery and are composed of more than 80 unique large and small ribosomal proteins. Recent studies show that in addition to their roles in protein translation, ribosomal proteins are also involved in extra-ribosomal functions of DNA repair, apoptosis and cellular homeostasis. Consequently, alterations in the synthesis or functionin...

The amino acid sequence of the rat 60 S ribosomal subunit protein L13a was deduced from the sequence of nucleotides in two recombinant cDNAs. Mature ribosomal protein L13a has 202 amino acids (the NH2-terminal methionine is removed after translation of the mRNA) and a M(r) of 23,330. Hybridization of the L13a cDNA to digests of nuclear DNA suggests that there are 9-11 copies of the L13a gene. T...

During protein biosynthesis, nascent protein chains are directed along a long narrow tunnel that spans the large ribosomal subunit. It has recently become clear that this structural feature has evolved to effect regulatory control over aspects of protein synthesis and protein trafficking. Since this control is nascent chain-specific, ribosomal components that form the tunnel must be involved in...

Formation of eukaryotic ribosomes requires more than 150 biogenesis factors which transiently interact with the nascent ribosomal subunits. Previously, many pre-ribosomal intermediates could be distinguished by their protein composition and rRNA precursor (pre-rRNA) content. We purified complexes of ribosome biogenesis factors from yeast cells in which de novo synthesis of rRNA precursors was d...