HIGH-RESOLUTION images of the protein-making factories in cells have revealed
clues about the origin of life and could lead to new ways to fight
antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The factories, or ribosomes, translate the genetic code into proteins. 鈥淪top
the ribosome and you are dead,鈥� says structural biologist Thomas Steitz of Yale
University. He, along with Peter Moore and other colleagues, has worked out the
structure of the larger of the two subunits that make up a ribosome.
Many antibiotics kill bacteria by targeting their ribosomes. But bacteria can
become resistant by mutating and changing the ribosomes鈥� shape. Knowing the
structure of the ribosome will help researchers develop better drugs. 鈥淵ou can
see where the antibiotic resistance sites are,鈥� says Steitz.
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The work also supports the RNA theory of the origin of life. Ribosomes are
made of RNA and proteins, and although proteins catalyse just about every
reaction in cells, it turns out to be the RNA part that actually makes proteins.
鈥淭his pretty well shows that for protein synthesis as we know it, RNA had to
precede proteins,鈥� says Steitz.
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Source:
Science (vol 289, p 905)