Uncovering the Secret of Protein Production FactoryGroundbreaking Discovery: Visualizing Ribosome Atoms. Credit: scitechdaily.com

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, under the leadership of Associate Professor Eva Kummer, has made a groundbreaking discovery by successfully visualizing the atomic details of the ribosome, a tiny, 20-30 nanometer cell component. For those unfamiliar with nanometers, they are equivalent to one billionth of a meter. The ribosome is composed of ribosomal RNA and ribosomal proteins and functions as a factory that builds proteins according to the instructions encoded in our genes. These ribosomes can be found floating in the cytosol of cells, as well as in organelles like mitochondria and bacteria. By utilizing electron microscopy, Kummer and her colleagues Giang Nguyen and Christina Ritter were able to construct a 3D model of the ribosome, specifically focusing on the process of ribosome assembly.

Understanding the structure and function of the ribosome is crucial as it is responsible for producing proteins, the building blocks of our body. Without proteins, life as we know it would cease to exist. Remarkably, every part of the human body is made up of millions of complex molecules that work together in perfect harmony. Kummer describes this as "breathtaking". However, before ribosomes can begin producing proteins, they must first be assembled from over 80 different components. Kummer and her team have successfully produced 3D models of three different stages of ribosome assembly, including the earliest stage which has not been described before.

At this early stage, the researchers identified a specific protein called GTPBP10 that interacts with an RNA component to form a long helix. This helix contains the catalytic center of the ribosome, where proteins are made. The correct folding and placement of this helix is crucial for protein synthesis and GTPBP10 plays a vital role in ensuring this process goes smoothly. By gaining insight into the various stages of ribosome assembly, this study may pave the way for a better understanding of diseases caused by errors in this process. These diseases include neurodegenerative disorders, heart conditions, and the aging process, as reduced ribosome function leads to a decrease in the production of energy coins that power cellular processes.

Kummer emphasizes the importance of understanding how the ribosome works in order to be able to make changes and potentially prevent diseases. The study, "Structural insights into the role of GTPBP10 in the RNA maturation of the mitoribosome", has been published in Nature Communications.

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