AUTHOR=GIUDICE Emmanuel , MACE Kevin , GILLET Reynald 

TITLE=Trans-translation exposed: understanding the structures and functions of tmRNA-SmpB

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00113

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2014.00113

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Ribosome stalling is a serious issue for cell survival. In bacteria, the primary rescue system is <italic>trans</italic>-translation, performed by tmRNA and its protein partner small protein B (SmpB). Since its discovery almost 20 years ago, biochemical, genetic, and structural studies have paved the way to a better understanding of how this sophisticated process takes place at the cellular and molecular levels. Here we describe the molecular details of <italic>trans</italic>-translation, with special mention of recent cryo-electron microscopy and crystal structures that have helped explain how the huge tmRNA-SmpB complex targets and delivers stalled ribosomes without interfering with canonical translation.</p>