Open AccessThe parable of the caveman and the Ferrari: protein synthesis and the RNA world
Author(s) -
Harry F. Noller
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
philosophical transactions of the royal society b biological sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1471-2970
pISSN - 0962-8436
DOI - 10.1098/rstb.2016.0187
Subject(s) - ribosome , rna , ribonucleoprotein , ribosomal rna , transfer rna , protein biosynthesis , rna world hypothesis , biology , translation (biology) , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , messenger rna , chemistry , ribozyme , genetics , gene
The basic steps of protein synthesis are carried out by the ribosome, a very large and complex ribonucleoprotein particle. In keeping with its proposed emergence from an RNA world, all three of its core mechanisms-aminoacyl-tRNA selection, catalysis of peptide bond formation and coupled translocation of mRNA and tRNA-are embodied in the properties of ribosomal RNA, while its proteins play a supportive role.This article is part of the themed issue 'Perspectives on the ribosome'.
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