Ribosomes are large macromolecular machines that catalyze protein synthesis in all cells. While their structure and function is well understood, the principles and mechanisms governing their assembly from the constituent ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) remain poorly understood. What is known is that in eukaryotes a large macromolecular machinery, comprising over 200 protein and RNA factors transiently associates with assembling ribosomes to facilitate the transcription of pre-rRNA, the modification and cleavage of rRNA precursors, the folding of rRNA as well as the binding of r-proteins. While most of these proteins are essential (~ 20% of essential genes in yeast are involved in ribosome assembly) and conserved from yeast to humans, their function remains often unknown.

Want to know more?