A structural basis for streptomycin-induced misreading of the genetic code.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Source:

Nat Commun, Volume 4, p.1355 (2013)

Keywords:

Crystallography, X-Ray, Genetic Code, Models, Molecular, Molecular Conformation, Open Reading Frames, Ribosome Subunits, Small, Bacterial, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Static Electricity, Streptomycin, Thermus thermophilus

Abstract:

<p>During protein synthesis, the ribosome selects aminoacyl-transfer RNAs with anticodons matching the messenger RNA codon present in the A site of the small ribosomal subunit. The aminoglycoside antibiotic streptomycin disrupts decoding by binding close to the site of codon recognition. Here we use X-ray crystallography to define the impact of streptomycin on the decoding site of the Thermus thermophilus 30S ribosomal subunit in complexes with cognate or near-cognate anticodon stem-loop analogues and messenger RNA. Our crystal structures display a significant local distortion of 16S ribosomal RNA induced by streptomycin, including the crucial bases A1492 and A1493 that participate directly in codon recognition. Consistent with kinetic data, we observe that streptomycin stabilizes the near-cognate anticodon stem-loop analogue complex, while destabilizing the cognate anticodon stem-loop analogue complex. These data reveal how streptomycin disrupts the recognition of cognate anticodon stem-loop analogues and yet improves recognition of a near-cognate anticodon stem-loop analogue.</p>

PDB: 
4JI0 (P90L apo, crystal form 1), 4JI1 (P90L streptomycin cocrystal, form 1), 4JI2 (P90W apo, crystal form 1), 4JI3 (P90W streptomycin cocrystal form 1), 4JI4 (P90L/C1490U apo, crystal form 1), 4JI5 (wild-type apo, crystal form 2), 4JI6 (P90L apo, crystal form 2), 4JI7 (P90W apo, crystal form 2), and 4JI8 (P90W streptomycin soak, crystal form 2)
Detector: 
Q315
Beamline: 
24-ID-C