Affiliation:
1. Tokyo Institute of Technology Cell Biology Center, Institute of Innovative Research, , S2-19, Nagatsuta 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan
Abstract
Abstract
The ribosome, the protein synthesizing machinery composed of dozens of proteins and several ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), is essential for life. In vitro reconstitution of the ribosome holds significance for understanding biosynthesis, applications in biotechnology and potential contributions to synthetic biology. There is a long history of in vitro reconstitution of bacterial ribosomes, originating in the 1970s when the 30S ribosome of Escherichia coli was reconstituted from the protein and rRNA components prepared from native ribosome. Since then, the reconstitution using in vitro transcribed rRNAs has been established, and more recently, the reconstitution using recombinant ribosomal proteins has also become possible. A recent report by Aoyama et al. (J. Biochem. 2022; 171:227–237), the reconstitution of the 50S ribosome using 33 recombinant ribosomal proteins, is a new leap toward complete reconstitution of the holo ribosome complex from recombinant proteins and in vitro transcribed rRNAs. This commentary also discusses future challenges.
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)