Focusing on Ribosomes

Ribosomes are large macromolecules that are constructed of both RNA and protein components and play a fundamental role in decoding genetic information. The RNA component of ribosomes has been shown to provide the enzymatic activities required for protein translation, while the protein components are thought to serve largely in a structural manner.  The human 80S ribosome is made up of a 60S and 40S subunit. The 60S subunit is composed of a 5S rRNA, 5.8S rRNA, 28S rRNA and approximately 49 proteins and functions to catalyze peptide bond formation. The 40S subunit is composed of an 18S rRNA and approximately 33 proteins and functions to bring together the mRNA codon and the tRNA anticodon. Evolutionarily speaking, ribosomal proteins represent some of the oldest proteins, and their evolutionary development is considered to be the spark that facilitated a transition from a mainly DNA/RNA world to a DNA/RNA/protein wo rld. As a link between the RNA and protein world, ribosomes fulfill a critical element of the “central dogma” which hypothesizes that for all living things, DNA is transcribed into RNA which is then translated to protein.  Ribosomal structure and function is highly conserved across archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes and it is suggested that along with RNA and DNA, modern ribosomal macromolecules were present among the last common ancestor (LUCA). Because of their ancient beginnings and macromolecular complexity, studies of  ribosome structure, function, and assembly will provide clues to the origins of life and the evolutionary history of modern species.

Selected Reviews

Crick, F. (1970). Central dogma of molecular biology. Nature, 227, 561-563.

Fox, G. E. (2010). Origin and evolution of the ribosome. Cold Spring Harb. Perspect. Biol., 2, a003483.

Moore, P. B. & Steitz, T. A. (2002). The involvement of RNA in ribosome function. Nature, 418, 229-235.

Ribosome Antibody Portfolio

AATF/Che-1, BOP1, DAP3, DjC21, Drosha, GCN1L1, GCN2, NPM1, NUFIP2, PRMT3, RACK1, RPL26, RPL7, rpL7a/SURF3, RPLP0, RPS6, RPS6 (S235), RPS6 (S235/S236), Ubiquitin.