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Updated: Aug 10, 2025

Rapid Isolation of the Mitoribosome from HEK Cells
Published on: October 4, 2018
Yet Another Similarity between Mitochondrial and Bacterial Ribosomal Small Subunit Biogenesis Obtained by Structural
Aydar G Bikmullin1, Bulat Fatkhullin2,3, Artem Stetsenko4
1Laboratory of Structural Biology, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420021 Kazan, Russia.
Abstract:
Ribosome biogenesis is a complex and highly accurate conservative process of ribosomal subunit maturation followed by association. Subunit maturation comprises sequential stages of ribosomal RNA and proteins' folding, modification and binding, with the involvement of numerous RNAses, helicases, GTPases, chaperones, RNA, protein-modifying enzymes, and assembly factors. One such assembly factor involved in bacterial 30S subunit maturation is ribosomal binding factor A (RbfA). In this study, we present the crystal (determined at 2.2 Å resolution) and NMR structures of RbfA as well as the 2.9 Å resolution cryo-EM reconstruction of the 30S-RbfA complex from Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Additionally, we show that the manner of RbfA action on the small ribosomal subunit during its maturation is shared between bacteria and mitochondria. The obtained results clarify the function of RbfA in the 30S maturation process and its role in ribosome functioning in general. Furthermore, given that S. aureus is a serious human pathogen, this study provides an additional prospect to develop antimicrobials targeting bacterial pathogens.
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