The ribosome revealed

Different seminal ejaculated fractions in artificial insemination condition the protein cargo of oviductal and uterine extracellular vesicles in pig

The seminal plasma (SP) is the liquid component of semen that facilitates sperm transport through the female genital tract. SP modulates the activity of the ovary, oviductal environment and uterine function during the periovulatory and early pregnancy period. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted in the oviduct (oEVs) and uterus (uEVs) have been shown to influence the expression of endometrial genes that regulate fertilization and early embryo development. In some species, semen is composed of well-separated fractions that vary in concentration of spermatozoa and SP composition and volume. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different accumulative fractions of the porcine ejaculate (F1, composed of the sperm-rich fraction, SRF; F2, composed of F1 plus the intermediate fraction; F3, composed of F2 plus the post-SRF) on oEVs and uEVs protein cargo. Six days after the onset of estrus, we determined the oEVs and uEVs size and protein concentration in pregnant sows by artificial insemination (AI-sows) and in non-inseminated sows as control (C-sows). We also identified the main proteins in oEVs and uEVs, in AI-F1, AI-F2, AI-F3, and C-sows. Our results indicated that although the size of EVs is similar between AI- and C-sows, the protein concentration of both oEVs and uEVs was significantly lower in AI-sows (p < 0.05). Proteomic analysis identified 38 unique proteins in oEVs from AI-sows, mainly involved in protein stabilization, glycolytic and carbohydrate processes. The uEVs from AI-sows showed the presence of 43 unique proteins, including already-known fertility-related proteins (EZR, HSPAA901, PDS). We also demonstrated that the protein composition of oEVs and uEVs differed depending on the seminal fraction(s) inseminated (F1, F2, or F3). In conclusion, we found specific protein cargo in oEVs and uEVs according to the type of semen fraction the sow was inseminated with and whose functions these specific EVs proteins are closely associated with reproductive processes.

The use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to monitor RNA-ligand interactions

RNAs are drawing increasing attention as potential therapeutic targets. A significant challenge in the RNA drug discovery process is identification of compounds that not only disrupt the natural functions of RNA by binding with high affinity, but also do so selectively. Assessing the binding mode of small molecules with RNA is important for understanding how they select their binding site and impart their mechanism of action. A number of complementary assays are often employed for analysis of the binding mode and to determine selectivity. One important technique that gives information about the binding affinity and stoichiometry is electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS). More recent methods have also revealed the usefulness of ESI MS in determining the binding loci of small molecules on RNA.

A metastable rRNA junction essential for bacterial 30S biogenesis

Tertiary sequence motifs encode interactions between RNA helices that create the three-dimensional structures of ribosomal subunits. A Right Angle motif at the junction between 16S helices 5 and 6 (J5/6) is universally conserved amongst small subunit rRNAs and forms a stable right angle in minimal RNAs. J5/6 does not form a right angle in the mature ribosome, suggesting that this motif encodes a metastable structure needed for ribosome biogenesis. In this study, J5/6 mutations block 30S ribosome assembly and 16S maturation in Escherichia coli. Folding assays and in-cell X-ray footprinting showed that J5/6 mutations favor an assembly intermediate of the 16S 5' domain and prevent formation of the central pseudoknot. Quantitative mass spectrometry revealed that mutant pre-30S ribosomes lack protein uS12 and are depleted in proteins uS5 and uS2. Together, these results show that impaired folding of the J5/6 right angle prevents the establishment of inter-domain interactions, resulting in global collapse of the 30S structure observed in electron micrographs of mutant pre-30S ribosomes. We propose that the J5/6 motif is part of a spine of RNA helices that switch conformation at distinct stages of assembly, linking peripheral domains with the 30S active site to ensure the integrity of 30S biogenesis.

Sample preparation of biological macromolecular assemblies for the determination of high-resolution structures by cryo-electron microscopy

Single particle cryo-EM has recently developed into a powerful tool to determine the 3D structure of macromolecular complexes at near-atomic resolution, which allows structural biologists to build atomic models of proteins. All technical aspects of cryo-EM technology have been considerably improved over the last two decades, including electron microscopic hardware, image processing software and the ever growing speed of computers. This leads to a more widespread use of the technique, and it can be anticipated that further automation of electron microscopes and image processing tools will soon fully shift the focus away from the technological aspects, onto biological questions that can be answered. In single particle cryo-EM, no crystals of a macromolecule are required. In contrast to X-ray crystallography, this significantly facilitates structure determination by cryo-EM. Nevertheless, a relatively high level of biochemical control is still essential to obtain high-resolution structures by cryo-EM, and it can be anticipated that the success of the cryo-EM technology goes hand in hand with further developments of sample purification and preparation techniques. This will allow routine high-resolution structure determination of the many macromolecular complexes of the cell that until now represent evasive targets for X-ray crystallographers. Here we discuss the various biochemical tools that are currently available and the existing sample purification and preparation techniques for cryo-EM grid preparation that are needed to obtain high-resolution images for structure determination.

Antibiotics and bacterial resistance in the 21st century

Dangerous, antibiotic resistant bacteria have been observed with increasing frequency over the past several decades. In this review the factors that have been linked to this phenomenon are addressed. Profiles of bacterial species that are deemed to be particularly concerning at the present time are illustrated. Factors including economic impact, intrinsic and acquired drug resistance, morbidity and mortality rates, and means of infection are taken into account. Synchronously with the waxing of bacterial resistance there has been waning antibiotic development. The approaches that scientists are employing in the pursuit of new antibacterial agents are briefly described. The standings of established antibiotic classes as well as potentially emerging classes are assessed with an emphasis on molecules that have been clinically approved or are in advanced stages of development. Historical perspectives, mechanisms of action and resistance, spectrum of activity, and preeminent members of each class are discussed.

What contemporary viruses tell us about evolution: a personal view

Recent advances in information about viruses have revealed novel and surprising properties such as viral sequences in the genomes of various organisms, unexpected amounts of viruses and phages in the biosphere, and the existence of giant viruses mimicking bacteria. Viruses helped in building genomes and are driving evolution. Viruses and bacteria belong to the human body and our environment as a well-balanced ecosystem. Only in unbalanced situations do viruses cause infectious diseases or cancer. In this article, I speculate about the role of viruses during evolution based on knowledge of contemporary viruses. Are viruses our oldest ancestors?

Antibiotics from microbes: converging to kill

As genetically encoded small molecules, antibiotics are phenotypes that have resulted from mutation and natural selection. Advances in genetics, biochemistry, and bioinformatics have connected hundreds of antibiotics to the gene clusters that encode them, allowing these molecules to be analyzed using the tools of evolutionary biology. This review surveys examples of convergent evolution from microbially produced antibiotics, including the convergence of distinct gene clusters on similar phenotypes and the merger of distinct gene clusters into a single functional unit. Examining antibiotics through an evolutionary lens highlights the versatility of biosynthetic pathways, reveals lessons for combating antibiotic resistance, and provides an entry point for studying the natural roles of these natural products.

Small molecule inhibitors of yeast pre-mRNA splicing

The spliceosome catalyzes pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing, an essential process in eukaryotic gene expression in which non-protein-coding sequences are removed from pre-mRNA. The spliceosome is a large, molecular complex composed of five small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) and over 100 proteins. Large-scale rearrangements of the snRNAs and their associated proteins, including changes in base-pairing partners, are required to properly identify the intron-containing pre-mRNA, position it within the spliceosome, and complete the cleavage and ligation reactions of splicing. Despite detailed knowledge of the composition of the spliceosome at various stages of assembly, the critical signals and conformational changes that drive the dynamic rearrangements required for pre-mRNA splicing remain largely unknown. Just as ribosome-binding antibiotics facilitated mechanistic studies of the ribosome, study of the catalytic mechanisms of the spliceosome could be enhanced by the availability of small molecule inhibitors that block spliceosome assembly and splicing at defined stages. We sought to identify inhibitors of Saccharomyces cerevisiae splicing by screening for small molecules that block yeast splicing in vitro. We identified 10 small molecule inhibitors of yeast splicing, including four antibiotics, one kinase inhibitor, and five oxaspiro compounds. We also report that a subset of the oxaspiro derivatives permitted assembly of spliceosomal complexes onto pre-mRNA but blocked splicing prior to the first cleavage reaction.

Cotranslational processing mechanisms: towards a dynamic 3D model

Recent major advances have been made in understanding how cotranslational events are achieved in the course of protein biosynthesis. Specifically, several studies have shed light into the dynamic process of how nascent chains emerging from the ribosome are supported by protein biogenesis factors to ensure both processing and folding mechanisms. To take into account the awareness that coordination is needed, a new 'concerted model' recently proposed simultaneous action of both processes on the ribosome. In the model, any emerging nascent chain is first encountered by the chaperone trigger factor (TF), which forms an open cradle underneath the ribosomal exit tunnel. This cradle serves as a passive router that channels the nascent chains to the first cotranslational event, the proteolysis event performed by the N-terminal methionine excision machinery. Although fascinating, this model clearly raises more questions than it answers. Does the data used to develop this model stand up to scrutiny and, if not, what are the alternative mechanisms that the data suggest?

The Croonian lecture 2006. Structure of the living cell

The smallest viable unit of life is a single cell. To understand life, we need to visualize the structure of the cell as well as all cellular components and their complexes. This is a formidable task that requires sophisticated tools. These have developed from the rudimentary early microscopes of 350 years ago to a toolbox that includes electron microscopes, synchrotrons, high magnetic fields and vast computing power. This lecture briefly reviews the development of biophysical tools and illustrates how they begin to unravel the 'molecular logic of the living state'.

Correlating ribosome function with high-resolution structures

Ribosome research has undergone astonishing progress in recent years. Crystal structures have shed light on the functional properties of the translation machinery and revealed how the striking architecture of the ribosome is ingeniously designed as the framework for its unique capabilities: precise decoding, substrate-mediated peptide-bond formation and efficient polymerase activity. New findings include the two concerted elements of tRNA translocation: sideways shift and a ribosomal-navigated rotatory motion; the dynamics of the nascent-chain exit tunnel and the shelter formed by the ribosome-bound trigger-factor, which acts as a chaperone to prevent nascent-chain aggregation and misfolding. The availability of these structures has also illuminated the action, selectivity, resistance and synergism of antibiotics that target ribosomes.

Predicting ribosomal frameshifting efficiency

Many retroviruses use -1 ribosomal frameshifting as part of the mechanism in translational control of viral protein synthesis. Quantitative prediction of the efficiency of -1 frameshifting is crucial for understanding the viral gene expression. Here we investigate the free energy landscape for a minimal -1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting machinery, including the codon-anticodon base pairs at the slippery site, the downstream messenger RNA structure and the spacer between the slippery site and the downstream structure. The free energy landscape analysis leads to a quantitative relationship between the frameshifting efficiency and the tension force generated during the movement of codon-anticodon complexes, which may occur in the A/T to A/A accommodation process or the translocation process. The analysis shows no consistent correlation between frameshifting efficiency and global stability of the downstream mRNA structure.

A peptide deformylase-ribosome complex reveals mechanism of nascent chain processing

Messenger-RNA-directed protein synthesis is accomplished by the ribosome. In eubacteria, this complex process is initiated by a specialized transfer RNA charged with formylmethionine (tRNA(fMet)). The amino-terminal formylated methionine of all bacterial nascent polypeptides blocks the reactive amino group to prevent unfavourable side-reactions and to enhance the efficiency of translation initiation. The first enzymatic factor that processes nascent chains is peptide deformylase (PDF); it removes this formyl group as polypeptides emerge from the ribosomal tunnel and before the newly synthesized proteins can adopt their native fold, which may bury the N terminus. Next, the N-terminal methionine is excised by methionine aminopeptidase. Bacterial PDFs are metalloproteases sharing a conserved N-terminal catalytic domain. All Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, possess class-1 PDFs characterized by a carboxy-terminal alpha-helical extension. Studies focusing on PDF as a target for antibacterial drugs have not revealed the mechanism of its co-translational mode of action despite indications in early work that it co-purifies with ribosomes. Here we provide biochemical evidence that E. coli PDF interacts directly with the ribosome via its C-terminal extension. Crystallographic analysis of the complex between the ribosome-interacting helix of PDF and the ribosome at 3.7 A resolution reveals that the enzyme orients its active site towards the ribosomal tunnel exit for efficient co-translational processing of emerging nascent chains. Furthermore, we have found that the interaction of PDF with the ribosome enhances cell viability. These results provide the structural basis for understanding the coupling between protein synthesis and enzymatic processing of nascent chains, and offer insights into the interplay of PDF with the ribosome-associated chaperone trigger factor.

Structure and dynamics of a ribosome-bound nascent chain by NMR spectroscopy

Protein folding in living cells is inherently coupled to protein synthesis and chain elongation. There is considerable evidence that some nascent chains fold into their native structures in a cotranslational manner before release from the ribosome, but, despite its importance, a detailed description of such a process at the atomic level remains elusive. We show here at a residue-specific level that a nascent protein chain can reach its native tertiary structure on the ribosome. By generating translation-arrested ribosomes in which the newly synthesized polypeptide chain is selectively (13)C/(15)N-labeled, we observe, using ultrafast NMR techniques, a large number of resonances of a ribosome-bound nascent chain complex corresponding to a pair of C-terminally truncated immunoglobulin (Ig) domains. Analysis of these spectra reveals that the nascent chain adopts a structure in which a native-like N-terminal Ig domain is tethered to the ribosome by a largely unfolded and highly flexible C-terminal domain. Selective broadening of resonances for a group of residues that are colocalized in the structure demonstrates that there are specific but transient interactions between the ribosome and the N-terminal region of the folded Ig domain. These findings represent a step toward a detailed structural understanding of the cellular processes of cotranslational folding.

Nanometer distance measurements in RNA using site-directed spin labeling

The method of site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) utilizes a stable nitroxide radical to obtain structural and dynamic information on biomolecules. Measuring dipolar interactions between pairs of nitroxides yields internitroxide distances, from which quantitative structural information can be derived. This study evaluates SDSL distance measurements in RNA using a nitroxide probe, designated as R5, which is attached in an efficient and cost-effective manner to backbone phosphorothioate sites that are chemically substituted in arbitrary sequences. It is shown that R5 does not perturb the global structure of the A-form RNA helix. Six sets of internitroxide distances, ranging from 20 to 50 A, were measured on an RNA duplex with a known X-ray crystal structure. The measured distances strongly correlate (R(2) = 0.97) with those predicted using an efficient algorithm for determining the expected internitroxide distances from the parent RNA structure. The results enable future studies of global RNA structures for which high-resolution structural data are absent.

Mutational analysis of the ribosome

The ribosome is responsible for protein synthesis, the translation of the genetic code, in all living organisms. Ribosomes are composed of RNA (ribosomal RNA) and protein (ribosomal protein). Soluble protein factors bind to the ribosome and facilitate different phases of translation. Genetic approaches have proved useful for the identification and characterization of the structural and functional roles of specific nucleotides in ribosomal RNA and of specific amino acids in ribosomal proteins and in ribosomal factors. This chapter summarizes examples of mutations identified in ribosomal RNA, ribosomal proteins, and ribosomal factors.

On the origin of the translation system and the genetic code in the RNA world by means of natural selection, exaptation, and subfunctionalization

BACKGROUND

The origin of the translation system is, arguably, the central and the hardest problem in the study of the origin of life, and one of the hardest in all evolutionary biology. The problem has a clear catch-22 aspect: high translation fidelity hardly can be achieved without a complex, highly evolved set of RNAs and proteins but an elaborate protein machinery could not evolve without an accurate translation system. The origin of the genetic code and whether it evolved on the basis of a stereochemical correspondence between amino acids and their cognate codons (or anticodons), through selectional optimization of the code vocabulary, as a "frozen accident" or via a combination of all these routes is another wide open problem despite extensive theoretical and experimental studies. Here we combine the results of comparative genomics of translation system components, data on interaction of amino acids with their cognate codons and anticodons, and data on catalytic activities of ribozymes to develop conceptual models for the origins of the translation system and the genetic code.

RESULTS

Our main guide in constructing the models is the Darwinian Continuity Principle whereby a scenario for the evolution of a complex system must consist of plausible elementary steps, each conferring a distinct advantage on the evolving ensemble of genetic elements. Evolution of the translation system is envisaged to occur in a compartmentalized ensemble of replicating, co-selected RNA segments, i.e., in a RNA World containing ribozymes with versatile activities. Since evolution has no foresight, the translation system could not evolve in the RNA World as the result of selection for protein synthesis and must have been a by-product of evolution drive by selection for another function, i.e., the translation system evolved via the exaptation route. It is proposed that the evolutionary process that eventually led to the emergence of translation started with the selection for ribozymes binding abiogenic amino acids that stimulated ribozyme-catalyzed reactions. The proposed scenario for the evolution of translation consists of the following steps: binding of amino acids to a ribozyme resulting in an enhancement of its catalytic activity; evolution of the amino-acid-stimulated ribozyme into a peptide ligase (predecessor of the large ribosomal subunit) yielding, initially, a unique peptide activating the original ribozyme and, possibly, other ribozymes in the ensemble; evolution of self-charging proto-tRNAs that were selected, initially, for accumulation of amino acids, and subsequently, for delivery of amino acids to the peptide ligase; joining of the peptide ligase with a distinct RNA molecule (predecessor of the small ribosomal subunit) carrying a built-in template for more efficient, complementary binding of charged proto-tRNAs; evolution of the ability of the peptide ligase to assemble peptides using exogenous RNAs as template for complementary binding of charged proteo-tRNAs, yielding peptides with the potential to activate different ribozymes; evolution of the translocation function of the protoribosome leading to the production of increasingly longer peptides (the first proteins), i.e., the origin of translation. The specifics of the recognition of amino acids by proto-tRNAs and the origin of the genetic code depend on whether or not there is a physical affinity between amino acids and their cognate codons or anticodons, a problem that remains unresolved.

CONCLUSION

We describe a stepwise model for the origin of the translation system in the ancient RNA world such that each step confers a distinct advantage onto an ensemble of co-evolving genetic elements. Under this scenario, the primary cause for the emergence of translation was the ability of amino acids and peptides to stimulate reactions catalyzed by ribozymes. Thus, the translation system might have evolved as the result of selection for ribozymes capable of, initially, efficient amino acid binding, and subsequently, synthesis of increasingly versatile peptides. Several aspects of this scenario are amenable to experimental testing.

A facile method for attaching nitroxide spin labels at the 5' terminus of nucleic acids

In site-directed spin labeling (SDSL), a nitroxide moiety containing a stable, unpaired electron is covalently attached to a specific site within a macromolecule, and structural and dynamic information at the labeling site is obtained via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Successful SDSL requires efficient site-specific incorporation of nitroxides. Work reported here presents a new method for facile nitroxide labeling at the 5' terminus of nucleic acids of arbitrary sizes. T4-polynucleotide kinase was used to enzymatically substitute a phosphorothioate group at the 5' terminus of a nucleic acid, and the resulting phosphorothioate was then reacted with an iodomethyl derivative of a nitroxide. The method was successfully demonstrated on both chemically synthesized and naturally occurring nucleic acids. The attached nitroxides reported duplex formation as well as tertiary folding of nucleic acids, indicating that they serve as a valid probe in nucleic acid studies.

The structure of free L11 and functional dynamics of L11 in free, L11-rRNA(58 nt) binary and L11-rRNA(58 nt)-thiostrepton ternary complexes

The L11 binding site is one of the most important functional sites in the ribosome. The N-terminal domain of L11 has been implicated as a "reversible switch" in facilitating the coordinated movements associated with EF-G-driven GTP hydrolysis. The reversible switch mechanism has been hypothesized to require conformational flexibility involving re-orientation and re-positioning of the two L11 domains, and warrants a close examination of the structure and dynamics of L11. Here we report the solution structure of free L11, and relaxation studies of free L11, L11 complexed to its 58 nt RNA recognition site, and L11 in a ternary complex with the RNA and thiostrepton antibiotic. The binding site of thiostrepton on L11 was also defined by analysis of structural and dynamics data and chemical shift mapping. The conclusions of this work are as follows: first, the binding of L11 to RNA leads to sizable conformation changes in the regions flanking the linker and in the hinge area that links a beta-sheet and a 3(10)-helix-turn-helix element in the N terminus. Concurrently, the change in the relative orientation may lead to re-positioning of the N terminus, as implied by a decrease of radius of gyration from 18.5 A to 16.2 A. Second, the regions, which undergo large conformation changes, exhibit motions on milliseconds-microseconds or nanoseconds-picoseconds time scales. Third, binding of thiostrepton results in more rigid conformations near the linker (Thr71) and near its putative binding site (Leu12). Lastly, conformational changes in the putative thiostrepton binding site are implicated by the re-emergence of cross-correlation peaks in the spectrum of the ternary complex, which were missing in that of the binary complex. Our combined analysis of both the chemical shift perturbation and dynamics data clearly indicates that thiostrepton binds to a pocket involving residues in the 3(10)-helix in L11.

Identifying effects of snoRNA-guided modifications on the synthesis and function of the yeast ribosome

The small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are associated with proteins in ribonucleoprotein complexes called snoRNPs ("snorps"). These complexes create modified nucleotides in preribosomal RNA and other RNAs and participate in nucleolytic cleavages of pre-rRNA. The various reactions occur in site-specific fashion, and the mature rRNAs are ultimately incorporated into cytoplasmic ribosomes. Most snoRNAs exist in two structural classes, and most members in each class are involved in nucleotide modification reactions. Guide snoRNAs in the "box C/D" class target methylation of the 2'-hydroxyl moiety, to form 2'-O-methylated nucleotides (Nm), whereas guide snoRNAs in the "box H/ACA" class target specific uridines for conversion to pseudouridine (Psi). The rRNA nucleotides modified in this manner are numerous, totaling approximately 100 in yeast and twice that number in humans. Although the chemistry of the modifications and the factors involved in their formation are largely explained, very little is known about the influence of the copious snoRNA-guided nucleotide modifications on rRNA activity and ribosome function. Among eukaryotic organisms the sites of rRNA modification and the corresponding guide snoRNAs have been best characterized in S. cerevisiae, making this a model organism for analyzing the consequences of modification. This chapter presents approaches to characterizing rRNA modification effects in yeast and includes strategies for evaluating a variety of specific rRNA functions. To aid in planning, a package of bioinformatics tools is described that enables investigators to correlate guide function with targeted ribosomal sites in several contexts. Genetic procedures are presented for depleting modifications at one or more rRNA sites, including ablation of all Nm or Psi modifications made by snoRNPs, and for introducing modifications at novel sites. Methods are also included for characterizing modification effects on cell growth, antibiotic sensitivity, rRNA processing, formation of various rRNP complexes, translation activity, and rRNA structure within the ribosome.

Internal Bulge and Tetraloop of the Catalytic Domain 5 of a Group II Intron Ribozyme Are Flexible: Implications for Catalysis

RNA molecules have an inherent flexibility that enables recognition of other interacting partners through potential disorder-order transitions, yet studies to quantify such motional dynamics remain few. With an increasing database of three-dimensional structures of biologically important RNA molecules, quantifying such motions becomes important to link structural deformations with function. One such system studied intensely is domain 5 (D5) from the self-splicing group II introns, which is at the heart of its catalytic machinery. We report the dynamics of a 36 nucleotide D5 from the Pylaiella littoralis group II intron in the presence and absence of magnesium ions, and at a range of temperatures (298K-318 K). Using high-resolution NMR experiments of heteronuclear nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE), spin-lattice (R(1)), and spin-spin (R(2)) (13)C relaxation rates, we determined the rotational diffusion tensor of D5 using the ROTDIF program modified for RNA dynamic analysis (ROTDIF_RNA). The D5 rotational diffusion tensor has an axial symmetric ratio (D(||)/D(perpendicular)) of 1.7+/-0.3, consistent with an estimated overall rotational correlation time of tau(m)=(2D(||)+4D(perpendicular))(-1) of 6.1(+/-0.3) ns at 298 K and 4.1(+/-0.2) ns at 318 K. The measured relaxation data were analyzed with the reduced spectral density mapping formalism using assumed values of the chemical shift anisotropy of the (13)C spins. Both the relaxation data and the values of the spectral density function reveal that the functional groups in D5 implicated in magnesium ion binding and catalysis (catalytic triad, internal bulge, and tetraloop regions) exhibit thermally induced motion on a wide variety of timescales. Because these motions parallel those observed in the intramolecular stem-loop of the U6 element within the spliceosome, we hypothesize that such extensive dynamic disorder likely facilitates D5 engaging both binding and catalytic regions of the ribozyme, and these may be a conserved feature of the catalytic machinery essential for catalysis.

Cryo-EM and single particles

Cryoelectronmicroscopy is a method for the imaging of macromolecules in the electron microscope. It was originally developed to determine membrane protein structures from two-dimensional crystals, but more recently "single-particle" techniques have become powerful and popular. Three-dimensional reconstructions are obtained from sets of single-particle images by extensive computer processing; the methods are being applied to many macromolecular assemblies.