Ribosome-channel complexes

Nascent secretory proteins are translocated into the lumen of the ER in higher eukaryotes and across the plasma membrane in bacteria. Conversely, membrane proteins are gated laterally into the lipid bilayer by the Sec61 and SecYEG channels. We seek to create a model of the co-translational translocon to understand these processes. Current studies are targeting the bacterial ribosome-channel complex to provide new insights into translocation.

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*Opening the lateral gate in the E. coli SecYEG channel

Researchers Capture Images of Open Channel That Moves Proteins Across Cell Membranes | School of Medicine – bumc.bu.edu

Park, E., Ménétret, J. F., Gumbart, J.C., Ludtke, S.J., Li, W., Whynot, A., Rapoport, T. A., and Akey, C. W. (2014). Structure of the SecY channel during initiation of protein translocation. Nature 506, 102-106. PMID: 24153188

Ménétret, J. F., Hegde, R.S., Woong, K., Gygi, S.P., Rapoport, T. A., and Akey, C. W. (2008). Single copies of Sec61 and TRAP associate with a non-translating mammalian ribosome. Structure 16, 1126-1137. PMID:18611385

Chandramouli, P., Topf, M., Ménétret, J.F., Eswar, N., Gutell, R.R., Sali, A., and Akey, C.W. (2008). Structure of the mammalian 80S ribosome at 8.7Å resolution. Structure 16, 535-548. PMID:18400176