CryoEM reveals that ribosomes in microsporidian spores are locked in a dimeric hibernating state

• DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01469-w
• Publication Date: 2023-09-14T16:03:52Z
• Authors: Mathew McLaren; Rebecca Conners; Michail N. Isupov; Patricia Gil-Díez; Lavinia Gambelli; Vicki A. M. Gold; Andreas Walter; Sean R. Connell; Bryony Williams; Bertram Daum
• Keywords: Eukaryotic Ribosome

Abstract Translational control is an essential process for the cell to adapt varying physiological or environmental conditions. To survive adverse conditions such as low nutrient levels, translation can be shut down almost entirely by inhibiting ribosomal function. Here we investigated eukaryotic hibernating ribosomes from microsporidian parasite Spraguea lophii in situ a combination of electron cryo-tomography and single-particle cryo-microscopy. We show that spores contain are locked dimeric (100S) state, which formed unique dimerization mechanism involving beak region. The within dimer fully assembled, suggesting they ready activated once host invaded. This study provides structural evidence acting hibernation microsporidia, therefore demonstrates eukaryotes utilize this translational control.