Understanding how all these molecules are put together to obtain a functional ribosome and how this is coordinated with the synthesis of its individual parts (molecules) remains a major challenge. A team of scientists from Scripps Research and Stanford University has now developed a novel single-molecule approach which allowed them to follow in real-time the assembly of an entire ribosomal domain while the RNA was being actively synthesized, the way it happens within a living cell.
Figure: Understanding the coupling between RNA synthesis, RNA folding and the assembly of proteins on the nascent transcript is a major challenge. Duss et al. now follow in real-time the assembly of an entire ribosomal domain while the ribosomal RNA is being actively synthesized and find that ribosomal proteins shape the nascent RNA by transient binding before being stably incorporated into the ribosomal particle. The figure depicts co-transcriptional ribosome assembly where the spinning wheel represents RNA synthesis, the knitting illustrates co-transcriptional RNA folding and the dress portrays the assembling ribosome. Image and illustration credit: Carlo Laffranchi.
You can read the press release from Scripps Research for the full story.