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Structure and function of the ribosome: approaching atomic resolution

Reference	B13016
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Marin Van Heel
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Stephen Curry, Dr Ardan Patwardhan
Institution	Imperial College London
Department	Biological Sciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	982,824
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/05/2000
End date	28/02/2005
Duration	58 months

Abstract

The structures of ribosomes and ribosomal subunits are studied by X-ray diffraction and cryo- electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Single particle cryo-EM is optimally suited for probing the ribosome in complex with its ligands ('functional complexes'). We intend to study many functional complexes, including those of viral IRESs attached to the small mammalian ribosomal subunit. We will improve the cryo-EM methodologies so far as to render the achievable resolution competitive with X-ray crystallography (better than approx. 4 Angstrom). Whereas X-ray crystallography results are currently approaching approx. 5 Angstrom resolution our best cryo-EM results are at approx. 8 Angstrom (unpublished), where we start to see the alpha-helices of ribosomal proteins. Advanced single- particle cryo-EM may become the technique of choice for studying the modus operandi of ribosomes at atomic resolution.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biomolecular Sciences (BMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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