Deciphering molecular details of the RAC–ribosome interaction by EPR spectroscopy

The eukaryotic ribosome-associated complex (RAC) plays a significant role in de novo protein folding. Its unique interaction with the ribosome, comprising contacts to both ribosomal subunits, suggests a RAC-mediated coordination between translation elongation and co-translational protein folding. Here, we apply electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy combined with site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) to gain deeper insights into a RAC–ribosome contact affecting translational accuracy. We identified a local contact point of RAC to the ribosome. The data provide the first experimental evidence for the existence of a four-helix bundle as well as a long α-helix in full-length RAC, in solution as well as on the ribosome. Additionally, we complemented the structural picture of the region mediating this functionally important contact on the 40S ribosomal subunit. In sum, this study constitutes the first application of SDSL-EPR spectroscopy to elucidate the molecular details of the interaction between the 3.3 MDa translation machinery and a chaperone complex.