40S-IRES Cryo-EM

Click on the image to view a movie of the conformational change (1.36MB). (Download QuickTime Here!)

1. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) of 40S ribosomal subunit at ~20-Å resolution.
2. Cryo-EM reconstruction of a complex between the 40S ribosomal subunit (yellow) and the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNA of hepatitis C virus (purple). Comparison with the structure in Figure A reveals a conformational change in the 40S subunit (upper right) induced by IRES binding.
3. Representative RNA helices fit the dimensions of the IRES RNA density.

Reference:

• Spahn, C.M.T., Kieft, J.S., Grassucci, R.A., Penczek, P., Zhou, K., Doudna, J.A. and Frank, J. (2001) Hepatitis C virus IRES RNA-induced changes in the conformation of the 40S ribosomal subunit. Science 291, 1959-1962. (348KB PDF)

© 2001 The American Association for the Advancement of Science