Ribosome inactivation for preservation: concepts and reservations

The role of the bacterial ribosome in the cellular response to environmental stress has been widely considered over last decade. Certain ribosome-associated proteins have been shown to induce conformational changes that lead to the formation of inactive forms of ribosomes that are presumed to be more stable during stationary phase. This was found to aid the survival of bacteria in this phase. Such proteins include ribosome modulation factor (RMF), YfiA and YhbH. Examining the influence of RMF on the survival of E. coli under heat, acid and osmotic stress showed that it was important for bacterial viability under these environmental pressures. However, the mechanism by which this protein exerts its effect has not been fully elucidated. The present work reviews the involvement of ribosomes in determining cell behaviour during stress. It focuses on the action of the ribosome-associated proteins and their role in inactivating ribosomes for preserving their integrity and aiding cell survival under stress.