Peptide‐Bond Synthesis on the Ribosome: No Free Vicinal Hydroxy Group Required on the Terminal Ribose Residue of Peptidyl‐tRNA

Abstract

OH?—OH no! The generally accepted explanation for peptide transfer in ribosomal peptidyltransferase is that the 2′-OH group of the adenosine residue (Ad) in the P site accepts a proton from the incoming α-amino group and transfers it to the outgoing deacylated tRNA (left). However, it has now been shown that peptide transfer still takes place in the absence of the 2′-hydroxy group (right: proposed alternative mechanism).