The initiation of de novo protein folding on the ribosome

How the earliest structure within the unfolded state is formed during biosynthesis on the ribosome and whether it has any consequences for downstream folding remain open questions. Here, we combine 15...

biorxiv.org

Chloroplast-encoded small subunit extensions reshape the Chlamydomonas chlororibosome - Nature Plants

Using in situ cryo-electron tomography, researchers found a unique ‘arm’ domain on the small subunit of Chlamydomonas chlororibosomes. This discovery suggests that chlororibosome structure is more evo...

nature.com

Nascent chain folding status modulates ribosome dynamics and mRNA stability through the ribosome-associated chaperone Zuo1

Chang et al. show that co-translational protein misfolding feeds back to ribosomes, slowing translation elongation and triggering mRNA decay. The ribosome-associated chaperone Zuo1 mediates this respo...

cell.com

Compendium of RNA modifications for bacterial stress adaptation | Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews

SUMMARYRNA modifications in the tRNA, rRNA, and mRNA constitute a widespread layer of post-transcriptional gene regulation, commonly known as the epitranscriptome. In bacteria, tRNA and rRNA modifications are well documented and play essential roles in tRNA folding, rRNA maturation, translation, and peptidyl transfer. Although mRNA modifications have been extensively characterized in eukaryotes, their functional implications for mRNA fate in prokaryotes remain uncertain, and their identities and locations are the subject of an emerging field of research. Importantly, RNA modification is a dynamic process, and variation in the presence and abundance of these modifications has significant consequences for bacterial physiology. Here, we discuss current knowledge of modified RNA nucleotides in bacteria, with a particular focus on their roles in bacterial adaptation to environmental stress.

journals.asm.org

The Legionella pneumophila effector SidL is an adenylyltransferase that modifies the glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate

Black et al. identify the L. pneumophila effector SidL as an adenylyltransferase that targets host glycolysis. SidL covalently modifies the glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate (3PG) with AMP, g...

cell.com

Mechanism of nucleolytic degradation of human ribosomes

Stresses like starvation trigger degradation of mature 40S ribosomes, requiring the coordinated breakdown of large and stable RNA-protein complexes. The atypical kinase RIOK3 orchestrates degradation ...

biorxiv.org

Conformational diversity of collided ribosomes determines stress signaling

Translating ribosomes are stalled by amino acid starvation and by chemical damage of the mRNA template, leading to ribosome collisions. These collisions serve as signaling platforms that promote quali...

biorxiv.org

Laser phase plate improves structure determination of small proteins by cryo-EM

Phase plates can, in principle, overcome the poor image contrast in cryo–electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and the resulting limits on the structural reconstruction of small proteins. However, previous de...

science.org

Bacteria sense virus-induced genome degradation via methylated mononucleotides

Phages often degrade the genome of their bacterial host to individual nucleotides. Here we describe Metis, a bacterial defense system that directly senses phage-mediated host genome degradation. Metis...

science.org

Cryo-EM structure of the naked mole-rat ribosome reveals a stabilized split 28S rRNA - Nature Communications

The long-living rodent naked mole-rat has a distinct break in its 28S ribosomal RNA. Here, the authors present cryo-EM structures showing this cleavage is stabilized by surrounding ribosomal proteins,...

nature.com

A new antibiotic scaffold hits a new target

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 19 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01336-5This study describes the discovery of a new antibiotic with a previously unknown mode of action.

dlvr.it

Conformational diversity of collided ribosomes determines stress signaling

Translating ribosomes are stalled by amino acid starvation and by chemical damage of the mRNA template, leading to ribosome collisions. These collisions serve as signaling platforms that promote quali...

biorxiv.org

AMaNITA: an end-to-end workflow for native tRNA nanopore sequencing data analysis

Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules serve as essential adapters during protein translation. While direct RNA sequencing (DRS) via Oxford Nanopore Technologies has emerged as a powerful platform for systemat...

biorxiv.org

Substrate-induced assembly and functional mechanism of the membrane protein insertase SecYEG-YidC - The EMBO Journal

The Sec translocon and the YidC/Oxa1-type insertases universally mediate biogenesis of α-helical membrane proteins, but the molecular basis of their cooperation has remained disputed. Recent discovery...

link.springer.com

A natural depsipeptide antibiotic binds the E-site of the bacterial ribosome - Nature

Improved fractionation strategies can identify antibiotics with previously unseen scaffolds and mechanisms, exemplified by manikomycin from Streptomyces rimosus, which acts by targeting the E-site of ...

nature.com

Substrate-induced assembly and functional mechanism of the membrane protein insertase SecYEG-YidC - The EMBO Journal

The Sec translocon and the YidC/Oxa1-type insertases universally mediate biogenesis of α-helical membrane proteins, but the molecular basis of their cooperation has remained disputed. Recent discovery...

link.springer.com

A Streptomyces megacluster encodes synergistic biotin-targeting antibiotics - Nature

In Streptomyces spp., a conserved biosynthetic gene megacluster produces an arsenal of distinct antimicrobials that converge on bacterial biotin biosynthesis as a naturally evolved combination therapy...

nature.com

Antibiotic cocktail made by soil bacteria can kill superbugs

Four antibiotic compounds produced in Streptomyces bacteria attack multiple parts of an essential metabolic pathway.

go.nature.com

A natural depsipeptide antibiotic binds the E-site of the bacterial ribosome

Nature - Improved fractionation strategies can identify antibiotics with previously unseen scaffolds and mechanisms, exemplified by manikomycin from Streptomyces rimosus, which acts by targeting...

nature.com

Dual site targeting of the bacterial 70S ribosome by tetracyclines | Nature Communications

The tetracycline class of antibiotics is widely used for treating bacterial diseases including Lyme disease, anthrax, acne vulgaris, and pneumonia. Using a series of high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures, we show that tetracyclines can simultaneously target the mRNA decoding center in the 30S subunit and the nascent peptide exit tunnel (NPET) in the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome. Among the tested tetracyclines, Doxycycline was distinct in its ability to dimerize and bind the NPET at multiple locations. Structural comparison of Doxycycline, Minocycline, and Sarecycline bound to the Escherichia coli and Cutibacterium acnes 70S ribosome revealed species-specific differences affecting drug interaction and occupancy. Our results reveal a dual site mechanism of action for tetracyclines and provide a structural basis for rational design of narrow spectrum tetracyclines to overcome the rising threat of antibiotic resistance. Tetracyclines are among the most wide

doi.org

Flipping antimicrobial peptides in the exit tunnel of the bacterial ribosome - Nature Communications

In this work authors show how minimal mutations in proline-rich antimicrobial peptides can flip their orientation in the ribosome exit tunnel, switching their mechanism from stalling translation termination to halting initiation - revealing a possible host strategy against evolving pathogens.

nature.com

Ribosome tunnel interactions reveal how bacteria can pause protein production

How do bacteria regulate the production of their proteins? Researchers at the University of Hamburg, in collaboration with international partners, have now demonstrated how small protein building blocks, known as peptides, specifically influence bacterial protein production.

phys.org