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Trigger factor protects nascent polypeptides as they exit ribosomes. Ban/Macmillan

Cells contain a wide variety of chaperones to help newly synthesized proteins fold properly and reach their native state. But just how the chaperones operate isn't always clear. Now, Lars Ferbitz, Nenad Ban (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland), Elke Deuerling (University of Heidelberg, Germany), and colleagues find that the trigger factor chaperone complexes with the ribosome and provides a protected cradle for newly forming proteins.

Ferbitz et al. resolved a 2.7 Å crystal structure of the E. coli trigger protein and of the NH₂-terminal domain of the trigger factor bound to the 50S ribosomal subunit of H. marismortui. The tail domain of the trigger factor binds to the ribosome with moderate affinity. The remainder of the protein—the head, back, and arms—loom over the tunnel where polypeptides exit the ribosome, appearing like a dragon shielding its treasure. "We wouldn't have predicted this structure from the linear sequence," says Ferbitz, especially since the protein is only 48 kD in size.

The chaperone creates a hydrophobic space within which nascent proteins can fold, protected from potentially damaging agents, such as proteases. The team hypothesizes that once a domain in the new protein folds, it loses affinity for the hydrophobic surface of the chaperone. The weak interaction between the ribosome and the trigger factor then gives way, releasing the intact domain.

Reference:

Ferbitz, L., et al. 2004. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature02899.

Rabiya Tuma

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This Article PDF (Full Text) PPT slides of all figures Alert me when this article is cited Services Email this article Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new content in the JCB Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tuma, R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Tuma, R. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?