Structural basis for the inhibition of the eukaryotic ribosome

Nature. 2014 Sep 25;513(7519):517-22. doi: 10.1038/nature13737. Epub 2014 Sep 10.

Abstract

The ribosome is a molecular machine responsible for protein synthesis and a major target for small-molecule inhibitors. Compared to the wealth of structural information available on ribosome-targeting antibiotics in bacteria, our understanding of the binding mode of ribosome inhibitors in eukaryotes is currently limited. Here we used X-ray crystallography to determine 16 high-resolution structures of 80S ribosomes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in complexes with 12 eukaryote-specific and 4 broad-spectrum inhibitors. All inhibitors were found associated with messenger RNA and transfer RNA binding sites. In combination with kinetic experiments, the structures suggest a model for the action of cycloheximide and lactimidomycin, which explains why lactimidomycin, the larger compound, specifically targets the first elongation cycle. The study defines common principles of targeting and resistance, provides insights into translation inhibitor mode of action and reveals the structural determinants responsible for species selectivity which could guide future drug development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites / drug effects
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cycloheximide / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance / drug effects
  • Eukaryotic Cells / chemistry*
  • Eukaryotic Cells / drug effects
  • Eukaryotic Cells / enzymology
  • Kinetics
  • Macrolides / pharmacology
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Molecular Weight
  • Peptide Chain Elongation, Translational / drug effects
  • Peptidyl Transferases / chemistry
  • Peptidyl Transferases / metabolism
  • Piperidones / pharmacology
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism
  • Ribosome Subunits, Large, Eukaryotic / chemistry
  • Ribosome Subunits, Large, Eukaryotic / drug effects
  • Ribosome Subunits, Large, Eukaryotic / metabolism
  • Ribosomes / chemistry*
  • Ribosomes / drug effects*
  • Ribosomes / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / chemistry*
  • Species Specificity
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Macrolides
  • Piperidones
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • lactimidomycin
  • RNA, Transfer
  • Cycloheximide
  • Peptidyl Transferases

Associated data

  • PDB/4U3M
  • PDB/4U3N
  • PDB/4U3U
  • PDB/4U4N
  • PDB/4U4O
  • PDB/4U4Q
  • PDB/4U4R
  • PDB/4U4U
  • PDB/4U4Y
  • PDB/4U4Z
  • PDB/4U50
  • PDB/4U51
  • PDB/4U52
  • PDB/4U53
  • PDB/4U55
  • PDB/4U56
  • PDB/4U6F