Structure of the decoding center of the ribosome

Abstract

The decoding center of the ribosome provides mRNA translation and the fidelity of the codon--anticodon interactions along with mRNA translocation in the course of protein biosynthesis. The three-dimensional structure of the ribosome decoding center is still unknown. However, up to now a number of direct and indirect experimental data on the structural and functional organization of the decoding center have been obtained. In this paper the main components of the decoding center are described on the basis of our own experimental results combined with data from the literature. A model of their spatial arrangement at the small ribosomal subunit is suggested.