Diego Electronic Theses and Dissertations

of the Thesis ......................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 The Role of the Ribosome and Its Structure .............................................. 1 Ribosome Structure Overview......................................................... 2 Relevant Structural Features........................................................... 4 Overview of the Three Phases of Protein Synthesis .................................. 5 Initiation and Ribosome Subunit Association ................................. 5 Elongation of the Nascent Polypeptide ........................................... 7 Termination of Translation and Recycling of the Ribosome ............ 7 The Termination Phase of Protein Synthesis and Peptide Release Factors ....................................................................................................... 8