In this review article, the functional role of the E-site of the ribosome is discussed in the light of modern structural data. According to traditional concepts, this site is intended only for binding deacylated tRNA (E-tRNA) preceding the dissociation of this molecule from the protein synthesizing complex. Specific contacts of E-tRNA with rRNA of large ribosome subunits from different sources, as well as the sequence of their formation and destruction are considered. The mechanism of translation suppression by inhibitors whose binding site is the E-site of the ribosome is considered. Based on modern data on the localization of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (APC) in the immediate vicinity of the ribosome, a hypothesis is formulated that one of the main purposes of the E-site of the ribosome is the modulated preparation of tRNA for the formation of a specific complex with APC, in the form of which it leaves the ribosome.
Metelev et al. (Wed,) studied this question.