2.8-Å Cryo-EM Structure of the Large Ribosomal Subunit from the Eukaryotic Parasite Leishmania

Cell Rep. 2016 Jul 12;16(2):288-294. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.06.014. Epub 2016 Jun 30.

Abstract

Leishmania is a single-cell eukaryotic parasite of the Trypanosomatidae family, whose members cause an array of tropical diseases. The often fatal outcome of infections, lack of effective vaccines, limited selection of therapeutic drugs, and emerging resistant strains, underline the need to develop strategies to combat these pathogens. The Trypanosomatid ribosome has recently been highlighted as a promising therapeutic target due to structural features that are distinct from other eukaryotes. Here, we present the 2.8-Å resolution structure of the Leishmania donovani large ribosomal subunit (LSU) derived from a cryo-EM map, further enabling the structural observation of eukaryotic rRNA modifications that play a significant role in ribosome assembly and function. The structure illustrates the unique fragmented nature of leishmanial LSU rRNA and highlights the irregular distribution of rRNA modifications in Leishmania, a characteristic with implications for anti-parasitic drug development.

MeSH terms

  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Leishmania donovani*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
  • RNA, Protozoan / chemistry
  • RNA, Ribosomal / chemistry
  • Ribosomal Proteins / chemistry
  • Ribosome Subunits, Large / chemistry*
  • Ribosome Subunits, Large / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Protozoan Proteins
  • RNA, Protozoan
  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • Ribosomal Proteins