St. Jude Research Reveals Differences in Ribosome Decoding

Ribosomes are molecular machines within cells, responsible for synthesizing proteins by decoding messenger RNA (mRNA). Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital used a combination of single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to examine both the structure and function of human ribosomes. This allowed them to determine that the process of mRNA decoding in human ribosomes is structurally and kinetically distinct from bacteria, which helps explain why the process in humans is slower and more accurate—and where it can be regulated. These findings are significant because changes in mRNA decoding accuracy in human ribosomes have been linked to aging and disease and may represent a potential point of therapeutic intervention.

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