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Characteristic views of prokaryotic 50S ribosomal subunits

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Summary

Multivariate statistical analysis and classification techniques are powerful tools in sorting noisy electron micrographs of single particles according to their principal features, enabling one to form average images with an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio and a better reproducible resolution. We apply this methodology here to determining the characteristic views of the large (50S) ribosomal subunits from the eubacteriumEscherichia coli and the archaebacteriaMethanococcus vannielii, Sulfolobus solfataricus, andHalobacterium marismortui. Average images were obtained of the subunit in the common crown and kidney projections, but views of the particle in orientations intermediate between these two extremes were also elucidated for all species. These averages show reproducible detail of up to 2.0 nm resolution, thus enabling the visualization and interspecies comparison of many structural features as a first step toward comparing the actual three-dimensional structures. Our results disprove evolutionary lineages recently postulated on the basis of electron microscopical images of ribosomal subunits.

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Author notes

  1. George Harauz

    Present address: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

  2. Marina Stoeffler-Meilicke

    Present address: Institut fuer Mikrobiologie, Medizinische Fakultaet, Universitaet Innsbruck, Fritz-Pregl-Strasse 3, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, D-1000, Berlin 33, West Germany

    George Harauz & Marin van Heel

  2. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Molekulare Genetik, Abt. Wittmann, Ihnestrasse 63-73, D-1000, Berlin 33, West Germany

    Marina Stoeffler-Meilicke

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  2. Marina Stoeffler-Meilicke
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  3. Marin van Heel
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Harauz, G., Stoeffler-Meilicke, M. & van Heel, M. Characteristic views of prokaryotic 50S ribosomal subunits. J Mol Evol 26, 347–357 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02101154

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02101154

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