Targeting Functional Centers of the Ribosome

Ribosomes are universal ribozymes performing two main tasks: decoding the genetic information and polymerizing amino acids.The author aimed at revealing the structural basis for the catalytic function of the ribosome as a polymerase as the cellular machine that forms peptide bonds successively. The author investigated in detail the mode of function, inhibition, and evolution of the Peptidyl Transferase Center (PTC) by a combination of X-ray crystallography, biochemistry, molecular biology and theoretical studies. He also attempted shedding light on the origin of the ribosome.