The crystal structure of human eukaryotic release factor eRF1--mechanism of stop codon recognition and peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis.
Song, H., Mugnier, P., Das, A.K., Webb, H.M., Evans, D.R., Tuite, M.F., Hemmings, B.A., Barford, D.(2000) Cell 100: 311-321
- PubMed: 10676813 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80667-4
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1DT9 - PubMed Abstract: 
The release factor eRF1 terminates protein biosynthesis by recognizing stop codons at the A site of the ribosome and stimulating peptidyl-tRNA bond hydrolysis at the peptidyl transferase center. The crystal structure of human eRF1 to 2.8 A resolution, combined with mutagenesis analyses of the universal GGQ motif, reveals the molecular mechanism of release factor activity. The overall shape and dimensions of eRF1 resemble a tRNA molecule with domains 1, 2, and 3 of eRF1 corresponding to the anticodon loop, aminoacyl acceptor stem, and T stem of a tRNA molecule, respectively. The position of the essential GGQ motif at an exposed tip of domain 2 suggests that the Gln residue coordinates a water molecule to mediate the hydrolytic activity at the peptidyl transferase center. A conserved groove on domain 1, 80 A from the GGQ motif, is proposed to form the codon recognition site.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Section of Structural Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.