Summary
The location of the ribosomal proteins L14, L17, L18, L19, L22 and L23 on the surface of the 50S subunit of E. coli ribosomes was determined by immune electron microscopy. Antibodies (bivalent IgG's) specific for the six ribosomal proteins were used to form 50S subunit dimers (50S-IgG-50S). The dimers were separated from non-bound antibodies and 50S subunit-monomers and larger aggregates by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The attachment of each of the six immunoglobulins to 50S subunits was visualized directly by electron microscopy using negative staining and correlated with one or more of the structural features of the particle. Each of the proteins was found to occupy a unique position. Proteins L14, L19 and L23 are located in the region of the 50S subunit which interacts with the 30S particle. Proteins L17 and L22 are on the opposite side of the 50S ribosomal subunit, whilst L18 holds a position on one of the lateral protuberances of a crown-like shaped 50S subunit.
Two main forms of 50S subunits were seen on the electron micrographs: one of them had a crown-like shape; the second revealed kidney shaped images. It was demonstrated that these two images are only projections of one structure of the subunit that resembled an armchair; each of the forms could be transformed into the other through rotation by 90°.
The results allowed the proposal of a three-dimensional model of the 50S subunit with the location of six different ribosomal proteins as illustrated in Fig. 13.
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Tischendorf, G.W., Zeichhardt, H. & Stöffler, G. Determination of the location of proteins L14, L17, L18, L19, L22 and L23 on the surface of the 50S ribosomal subunit of Escherichia coli by immune electron microscopy. Molec. Gen. Genet. 134, 187–208 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267715
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267715