Human cells contain ribosomes, a complex machine that produces proteins for the rest of the body. Now the researchers have come closer to understanding how the ribosome works.
“It is amazing that we can visualize the atomic details of the ribosome. Because they are tiny – around 20-30 nanometers.”
So says Associate Professor Eva Kummer from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, who is responsible for the new study published in Nature Communications.
And don’t worry if you don’t know how much a nanometer is. It is around one billionth of a meter.
The Ribosome
The ribosome is a part of the human cell consisting of ribosomal RNA and ribosomal proteins.
The ribosome is like a factory that builds proteins by following a set of instructions inherent in the genes.
Ribosomes are found floating in the cell cytosol, cellular organelles such as mitochondria or the protoplasm of bacteria.
Using electron microscopy, Eva Kummer and her colleagues Giang Nguyen and Christina Ritter have managed to produce a 3D model of a part of the human cell, the ribosome, which is no more than 30 nanometers in diameter.
More specifically, they have taken snapshots of how a ribosome is made.
“It is important to understand how the ribosome is built and how it works, because it is the only cell particle that produces proteins in humans and all other living organisms. And without proteins, life would cease to exist,” says Eva Kummer.
Proteins are the primary building blocks of the human body. Your heart, lungs, brain, and basically your whole body is made of proteins produced by the ribosome.
“From the outside, the human body looks pretty simple, but then consider the fact that every part of the body consists of millions of molecules, that are extremely complex, and that they all know what to do – that is pretty breathtaking,” says Eva Kummer.
The complex assembling process of the ribosome. Credit: Eva Kummer
Folding, Assembling, and Moving to the Right Place
Before ribosomes can start to produce proteins, they first need to be assembled from over 80 different components.
Eva Kummer and her colleagues have obtained 3D models of three different stages of ribosome assembly.
“It is a complex particle with lots of different parts – many proteins and RNA components – that must be folded, assembled, and moved to the right place. It does not all happen at once. Ribosome assembly is a gradual process involving several stages,” she explains.
Out of the three stages, the 3D model describing the earliest time point in the assembly is the most interesting, according to Eva Kummer, as no one has been able to describe it before.
“At this stage, we can tell e.g. that a specific protein called GTPBP10 is eager to interact with a so-called RNA component that forms a long helix,” Eva Kummer says and adds:
“In fact, towards the bottom of that helix is the catalytic center of the ribosome, which is where proteins are made. This is why it is so important that the helix is folded and placed correctly. ”
To achieve this, GTPBP10 grabs the helix and puts it in the right position for protein synthesis.
This is just one of the many stages of ribosome assembly which the new study has shed light on – insight that may pave the way for more knowledge of various diseases.
“Errors in ribosome assembly severely reduce the capacity of our cells to make proteins. These are for example proteins that convert the energy from the food we eat into energy coins that the body can use to run all sorts of cellular processes. Now, if the mitochondrial ribosome does not work, our body cannot produce enough energy coins anymore and this leads to diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders and heart conditions. And during aging, the production of these energy coins also works less and less efficiently,” Eva Kummer says and adds:
“The first step is understanding how things work. Only then can you try to change them.”
You can read “Structural insights into the role of GTPBP10 in the RNA maturation of the mitoribosome“ in Nature Communications.
Reference: “Structural insights into the role of GTPBP10 in the RNA maturation of the mitoribosome” by Thu Giang Nguyen, Christina Ritter and Eva Kummer, 2 December 2023, Nature Communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43599-z

News
By working together, cells can extend their senses beyond their direct environment
The story of the princess and the pea evokes an image of a highly sensitive young royal woman so refined, she can sense a pea under a stack of mattresses. When it comes to [...]
Overworked Brain Cells May Hold the Key to Parkinson’s
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes uncovered a surprising reason why dopamine-producing neurons, crucial for smooth body movements, die in Parkinson’s disease. In mice, when these neurons were kept overactive for weeks, they began to falter, [...]
Old tires find new life: Rubber particles strengthen superhydrophobic coatings against corrosion
Development of highly robust superhydrophobic anti-corrosion coating using recycled tire rubber particles. Superhydrophobic materials offer a strategy for developing marine anti-corrosion materials due to their low solid-liquid contact area and low surface energy. However, [...]
This implant could soon allow you to read minds
Mind reading: Long a science fiction fantasy, today an increasingly concrete scientific goal. Researchers at Stanford University have succeeded in decoding internal language in real time thanks to a brain implant and artificial intelligence. [...]
A New Weapon Against Cancer: Cold Plasma Destroys Hidden Tumor Cells
Cold plasma penetrates deep into tumors and attacks cancer cells. Short-lived molecules were identified as key drivers. Scientists at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), working with colleagues from Greifswald University Hospital and [...]
This Common Sleep Aid May Also Protect Your Brain From Alzheimer’s
Lemborexant and similar sleep medications show potential for treating tau-related disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that a commonly used sleep medication can restore normal sleep patterns and [...]
Sugar-Coated Nanoparticles Boost Cancer Drug Efficacy
A team of researchers at the University of Mississippi has discovered that coating cancer treatment carrying nanoparticles in a sugar-like material increases their treatment efficacy. They reported their findings in Advanced Healthcare Materials. Over a tenth of breast [...]
Nanoparticle-Based Vaccine Shows Promise in Fighting Cancer
In a study published in OncoImmunology, researchers from the German Cancer Research Center and Heidelberg University have created a therapeutic vaccine that mobilizes the immune system to target cancer cells. The researchers demonstrated that virus peptides combined [...]
Quantitative imaging method reveals how cells rapidly sort and transport lipids
Lipids are difficult to detect with light microscopy. Using a new chemical labeling strategy, a Dresden-based team led by André Nadler at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) and [...]
Ancient DNA reveals cause of world’s first recorded pandemic
Scientists have confirmed that the Justinian Plague, the world’s first recorded pandemic, was caused by Yersinia pestis, the same bacterium behind the Black Death. Dating back some 1,500 years and long described in historical texts but [...]
“AI Is Not Intelligent at All” – Expert Warns of Worldwide Threat to Human Dignity
Opaque AI systems risk undermining human rights and dignity. Global cooperation is needed to ensure protection. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has changed how people interact, but it also poses a global risk to human [...]
Nanomotors: Where Are They Now?
First introduced in 2004, nanomotors have steadily advanced from a scientific curiosity to a practical technology with wide-ranging applications. This article explores the key developments, recent innovations, and major uses of nanomotors today. A [...]
Study Finds 95% of Tested Beers Contain Toxic “Forever Chemicals”
Researchers found PFAS in 95% of tested beers, with the highest levels linked to contaminated local water sources. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), better known as forever chemicals, are gaining notoriety for their ability [...]
Long COVID Symptoms Are Closer To A Stroke Or Parkinson’s Disease Than Fatigue
When most people get sick with COVID-19 today, they think of it as a brief illness, similar to a cold. However, for a large number of people, the illness doesn't end there. The World [...]
The world’s first AI Hospital, developed in China is transforming healthcare
Artificial Intelligence and its developments have had a revolutionary impact on society, and healthcare is not an exception. China has made massive strides in AI integrated healthcare, and continues to do so as AI [...]
Scientists Rewire Immune Cells To Supercharge Cancer-Fighting Power
Blocking a single protein boosts T cell metabolism and tumor-fighting strength. The discovery could lead to next-generation cancer immunotherapies. Scientists have identified a strategy to greatly enhance the cancer-fighting abilities of the immune system’s [...]