Small protein domains fold inside the ribosome exit tunnel. Issue 5 (25th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marino, Jacopo; von Heijne, Gunnar; Beckmann, Roland
• Is Part Of: FEBS letters. Volume 590:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 655
• Page End: 660
• Publication Date: 2016-02-25
• Subjects: cotranslational protein folding -- fast‐folding domains -- GFP -- ribosome exit tunnel -- SecM -- translational arrest; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biophysics -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Biochimie -- Périodiques; Biochemistry; Biophysics; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 572.05
• DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12098
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-5793

Abstract

Abstract : Cotranslational folding of small protein domains within the ribosome exit tunnel may be an important cellular strategy to avoid protein misfolding. However, the pathway of cotranslational folding has so far been described only for a few proteins, and therefore, it is unclear whether folding in the ribosome exit tunnel is a common feature for small protein domains. Here, we have analyzed nine small protein domains and determined at which point during translation their folding generates sufficient force on the nascent chain to release translational arrest by the SecM arrest peptide, both in vitro and in live E. coli cells. We find that all nine protein domains initiate folding while still located well within the ribosome exit tunnel. Abstract :