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A parasitic origin for the ribosome?

Researchers suggest ribosomes may have originated from a viral parasite, proposing a proto-ribosome that assembled small molecules into useful products. This theory implies that the evolution of the ribosome was influenced by its initial parasitic nature.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateFeb 24, 2026

Ribosomes in pairs

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research discovered that stressed animal cells, including neurons, assemble inactive ribosomes into tightly linked pairs, known as disomes. This novel mechanism relies on a specific piece of ribosomal RNA called an expansion segment to form a precise RNA-RNA interaction.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateFeb 23, 2026

Study pinpoints key mechanism of brain aging

A new study by Stanford researchers reveals that declining proteostasis in the brain leads to increased protein aggregation, which is linked to neurodegenerative diseases. The findings were made using the turquoise killifish model, and shed light on the fundamental molecular principles of aging.

SourceStanford University·JournalScience·DateJul 31, 2025

Uncovering the structural and regulatory mechanisms underlying translation arrest

Two previously unknown ribosome-arresting peptides (RAPs), PepNL and NanCL, were identified in E. coli, inducing translation arrest through a unique mini-hairpin conformation in the exit tunnel of the ribosome. This discovery provides valuable insights into deciphering the hidden genetic codes within polypeptide sequences.

SourceOkayama University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 18, 2025

Ribosomes team up in difficult situations, new technology shows

Researchers developed a new microscopy technique to observe how ribosomes function in cells. They discovered that ribosomes help each other when encountering difficulties, a process they refer to as 'ribosome cooperativity'. This finding provides insights into how proteins are made and offers a tool for better studying mRNA translation.

SourceHubrecht Institute·JournalCell·TypeImaging analysis·DateJan 31, 2025

A quick end for mRNA

Researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered a new degradation process for mRNA that targets proteins involved in cell differentiation. This process, triggered by the m6A modification, is significantly faster and more efficient than previously known mechanisms.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalMolecular Cell·DateDec 16, 2024

Bacteria ditch tags to dodge antibiotics

Researchers found that bacteria like E. coli assemble new ribosomes with altered tags, making them more resistant to antibiotics streptomycin and kasugamycin. This novel mechanism of antibiotic resistance could have significant implications for the fight against global antimicrobial resistance.

SourceCenter for Genomic Regulation·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 29, 2024

What we can learn from hungry yeast cells

Scientists discovered a unique way in which yeast cells adapt to starvation by coating their mitochondria with massive molecular complexes called ribosomes. This adaptation has potential implications for cancer treatment as it may help overcome the challenges faced by cancer cells when they are starved of nutrients.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2024

Unzipping mRNA rallies plant cells to fight infection

A new molecular mechanism has been identified that helps plants adjust protein levels to fight infection. By unzipping specific RNA structures, plant cells can produce defense proteins. This discovery also has implications for human cells, suggesting a similar mechanism may control protein production in response to pathogens.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 20, 2023

How one of nature's most fundamental molecules forms

Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the assembly of ribosomes, the essential nanomachines that translate genetic information into proteins. A new study has provided high-resolution images of the large ribosomal subunit, revealing key steps in its formation and maturation. The findings bring researchers clos...

SourceRockefeller University·JournalScience·DateJul 6, 2023

Retooling the ribosomal translation machine could expand chemical repertoire of cells

Researchers have made significant progress in reprogramming cells to supply the ribosome with building blocks other than alpha-amino acids. The ultimate goal is to make the translation system fully programmable, allowing for the production of an unlimited variety of new molecular chains with unique properties.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 13, 2023

New insights into bacterial antibiotic resistance

A team from the University of Tsukuba has discovered characteristics of proteins in bacteria that convey antibiotic resistance, providing insights into their function and role. These proteins, known as ARE-ABCFs, work in synergy with other resistance mechanisms to convey extremely high levels of antibiotic resistance.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateMay 24, 2023

A ribosomal traffic jam that breaks the heart

Researchers found that a mutation in RPL3L, expressed only in heart and skeletal muscle, leads to impaired cardiac contractility by causing ribosomal collisions and protein folding abnormalities. The study aims to develop new treatments for cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation.

SourceKyushu University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2023

Researchers discover how some brain cells transfer material to neurons in mice

Researchers at UC Davis discovered how oligodendrocyte-lineage cells transfer cell material to neurons in the mouse brain, providing a new mechanism for understanding brain maturation and finding treatments for neurological conditions. This discovery opens new possibilities for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and P...

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateApr 17, 2023

Researchers discover new class of ribosomal peptide with hemolytic activity

Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified a novel class of ribosomal peptides called daptides, which exhibit hemolytic activity. This discovery opens up new avenues for therapeutic development and highlights the vast potential of undiscovered RiPP classes.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 4, 2023

Lost in translation: How “risky” amino acids abort elongation in protein synthesis

A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that nascent peptide chains with N-terminal sequences rich in aspartic acid or glutamic acid can lead to abortion of translation in eukaryotic cells through intrinsic ribosome destabilization (IRD). This phenomenon is associated with biased amino acid usage in proteomes, where t...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 5, 2023