Protein Synthesis at Atomic Resolution: Mechanistics of Translation in the Light of Highly Resolved Structures for the Ribosome

Our understanding of the process of translation has progressed rapidly since the availability of highly resolved structures for the ribosome. A wealth of information has emerged in terms of both RNA and protein structure and the interplay between them. This has prompted us to revisit the astonishing “treasure trove” of functional data regarding the ribosome that has accumulated over the past decades. Here we try a systematic synopsis of these ribosomal functions in light of the cryo-electron microscopic structures (resolution >7 Å) and the atomic x-ray structures (>2.4 Å) of the ribosome.