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Comment
. 2017 Apr;33(4):256-257.
doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.12.003. Epub 2016 Dec 14.

Ribosome Assembly in Trypanosomatids: A Novel Therapeutic Target

Anyango D Kamina  1 , Noreen Williams  2
Affiliations
Comment

Ribosome Assembly in Trypanosomatids: A Novel Therapeutic Target

Anyango D Kamina et al. Trends Parasitol. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

In Liu et al., the authors present a 2.5-Å structure of the Trypanosoma cruzi 60S ribosomal subunit and propose a model for the stepwise assembly of the large-subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Based on this study, we discuss how the unique features of trypanosomatid ribosome assembly offer potential drug targets.

Keywords: rRNA processing; ribosome assembly; ribosome structure.; trypanosomatids.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. A model of the assembly of the 60S ribosomal RNAs (rRNA) in Trypanosoma cruzi
First, the rRNA scaffold is formed by the assembly of the large subunit (LSU)-α (orange red), LSU-β (green), and 5.8S (dark blue) rRNAs. Next, srRNA2 (light blue) and srRNA3 (brown) are assembled to the rRNA scaffold. Then srRNA1 (yellow) and srRNA4 (purple) are assembled. Finally, after the 60S rRNA scaffold is assembled, 5S rRNA (orange)-containing ribonucleoprotein, which is assembled at the central protuberance (CP), undergoes conformational changes that allows for subsequent processing steps of the large subunit. The full 60S subunit of T. cruzi (both proteins and rRNAs) is outlined in grey. Model structure from PDB (5T5H), structure prepared using Chimera [10].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

  • Structure and assembly model for the Trypanosoma cruzi 60S ribosomal subunit.
    Liu Z, Gutierrez-Vargas C, Wei J, Grassucci RA, Ramesh M, Espina N, Sun M, Tutuncuoglu B, Madison-Antenucci S, Woolford JL Jr, Tong L, Frank J. Liu Z, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Oct 25;113(43):12174-12179. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1614594113. Epub 2016 Oct 10. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016. PMID: 27791004 Free PMC article.

References

    1. Rodrigues JCF, et al. Biology of Human Pathogenic Trypanosomatids: Epidemiology, Lifecycle and Ultrastructure. In: Santos ALS, Branquinha MH, d’Avila-Levy CM, Kneipp LF, Sodré CL, editors. Proteins and Proteomics of Leishmania and Trypanosoma. Springer; Netherlands: 2014. pp. 1–42. - PubMed
    1. Wilson DN. Ribosome-targeting antibiotics and mechanisms of bacterial resistance. Nature Rev Microbiol. 2014;12:35–48. - PubMed
    1. Hashem Y, et al. High-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Trypanosoma brucei ribosome. Nature. 2013;494:385–9. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Shalev-Benami M, et al. 2.8-A Cryo-EM Structure of the Large Ribosomal Subunit from the Eukaryotic Parasite Leishmania. Cell Rep. 2016;16:288–94. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Liu Z, et al. Structure and assembly model for the Trypanosoma cruzi 60S ribosomal subunit. PNAS, USA. 2016;113:12174–9. - PMC - PubMed

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