The ribosome, which works in living cells, was first created
Last reviewed: 30.05.2018
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For the first time, biologists were able to produce in the laboratory conditions a ribosome (a non-membrane organelle of a cell responsible for protein synthesis). The results of their work the group of researchers published in one of the scientific journals and this discovery, according to some experts, will help to develop new drugs and biological materials.
The scientists named the artificial organoid of the Ribo-T cell and noted that the mechanism of work is not quite similar to the natural one.
This organelle is the most important component of the cell, it synthesizes the protein from the amino acid, taking as a basis information on the primary structure of proteins (contained in the matrix RNA). Such a process among scientists is called translation.
The organoide contains two subunits that exist parallel to each other in the cell, but in the case of synthesizing the protein molecule they combine together, and after the synthesis is completed, the subunits are separated.
An artificial ribosome was created by a group led by Alexander Mankin, a pharmacological college employee in Illinois. The main difference between an artificial ribosome is that after the transformation process the subunits are not separated.
According to the research group, the speed of operation of Ribo-T is about the same as that of the natural one. Scientists noted that this speed is enough to maintain normal growth and cell division in the body (such conclusions were made by scientists after the introduction of an artificial ribosome into bacterial cells).
Experts compared the work of ribosomes in our body with the work of a professional chef, who from the usual products creates masterpieces of culinary art. Also, ribosomes, create thousands of different proteins based on information about their structure.
Previously, unsuccessful attempts were made to create a ribosome in the laboratory. Two years ago, a team of researchers managed to get some kind of cell organoid, in which a rotaxane molecule was taken as a basis, and a ribosome was created using a certain process, however, they could not synthesize the protein in living cells and worked exclusively in an artificial environment.
The research team of Alexander Mankin managed to create a fully functioning artificial ribosome, which is able to work in natural conditions. According to experts, this will help scientists better understand how the process of protein synthesis is going on, and will also increase the possibilities in the development of medicines.
Scientists have explained that natural ribosomes are not able to synthesize certain types of proteins (this process is simply not provided by nature), but artificial organoids can be reconfigured to work with any proteins. This work of the Mankin group, in the opinion of the scientific community, can radically change the approach to the development of pharmacological preparations and help create drugs with certain characteristics, as well as antibacterial agents that block the work of bacterial cells.