2001/06/01 by Marina V. Rodnina, Wolfgang Wintermeyer · 5 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms #RNA modifications and cancer #RNA Research and Splicing
paper · doi:10.1146/annurev.biochem.70.1.415
openalex publication_date 2001/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
The ribosome discriminates between correct and incorrect aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNAs), or their complexes with elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and GTP, according to the match between anticodon and mRNA codon in the A site. Selection takes place at two stages, prior to GTP hydrolysis (initial selection) and after GTP hydrolysis but before peptide bond formation (proofreading). In part, discrimination results from different rejection rates that are due to different stabilities of the respective codon-anticodon complexes. An important additional contribution is provided by induced fit, in that only correct codon recognition leads to acceleration of rate-limiting rearrangements that precede chemical steps. Recent elucidation of ribosome structures and mutational analyses suggest which residues of the decoding center may be involved in signaling formation of the correct codon-anticodon duplex to the functional centers of the ribosome. In utilizing induced fit for substrate discrimination, the ribosome resembles other nucleic acid-programmed polymerases.