Yury S. Polikanov, Ph.D.

SUMMARY:

Stop codon-mediated termination of protein synthesis on the ribosome is crucial to life. Newly synthesized polypeptides are liberated from translating ribosomes by the action of dedicated proteins called release factors (RFs) that recognize the stop codons. This critical step ensures that all proteins have lengths strictly defined by their corresponding genes. We now reveal how RFs catalyze peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis on the ribosome. Remarkably, and contrary to previously proposed models, our structures show that RFs do not activate a water molecule but, instead, induce re-arrangements of the peptidyl-tRNA substrate, resulting in its autohydrolysis and peptide release.

Dr. Yury S. Polikanov is a professor at the Department of Biological Sciences at UIC and an affiliate of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Retzky College of Pharmacy.  His laboratory is committed to advancing the field of molecular biology by focusing on the structural aspects of protein synthesis and the mechanisms of action of ribosome-targeting antibiotics.   His overarching goal is the development of next-generation antimicrobial compounds and clinical strategies to combat drug resistance in pathogens.

To learn more, visit his website: https://sites.google.com/view/polikanovlab.