Nature Research, Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 1(18), p. 88-90, 2010
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1952
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We report the 'early' conformation of the Escherichia coli signal recognition particle (SRP) and its receptor FtsY bound to the translating ribosome, as determined by cryo-EM. FtsY binds to the tetraloop of the SRP RNA, whereas the NG domains of the SRP protein and FtsY interact weakly in this conformation. Our results suggest that optimal positioning of the SRP RNA tetraloop and the Ffh NG domain leads to FtsY recruitment.