- Geometric Properties of Ribosome Structures
- Project Year:
2019
- REU Student (s):
Caitlin Davis | Lewis & Clark College OR
- Student 1 Institution:
Lewis & Clark College
- Project Mentor:
Wilma Olson
- Project Mentor Area:
Chemistry and Chemical Biology
- Project Abstract:
Ribosomes are present in all cells, and are the site of protein synthesis. These molecules are therefore crucial to all biological functions in which proteins play a role. The structures of ribosomes from many organisms have been solved to a high resolution, giving a near complete description of their complex geometry. However, the functions of many regions of the ribosome remain unknown, as does the relationship between structure and function of certain regions. We study the geometry of a motif found near the point at which peptides exit the ribosome. In particular, we study the writhing number of this motif, and we show that this region of the ribosome differs between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, as well as between different species.
