Visualization of translation and protein biogenesis at the ER membrane

Abstract The dynamic ribosome–translocon complex, which resides at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, produces a major fraction of the human proteome 1,2 . It governs the synthesis, translocation, membrane insertion, N -glycosylation, folding and disulfide-bond formation of nascent proteins. Although individual components of this machinery have been studied at high resolution in isolation 3–7 , insights into their interplay in the native membrane remain limited. Here we use cryo-electron tomography, extensive classification and molecular modelling to capture snapshots of mRNA translation and protein maturation at the ER membrane at molecular resolution. We identify a highly abundant classical…

• EC
  European Commission

  Award: 724425