Figure 5. Ribosome specificity in cell and developmental biology.
a | In Escherichia coli, MazF cleaves the 3′ end of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and releases the anti-Shine-Dalgarno sequence, thereby generating specialized ribosomes that translate leaderless mRNAs that are involved in the stress response. b | Mitochondrial ribosomes (green) in the germ plasm (yellow area) of Drosophila melanogaster embryos are found outside of mitochondria and may translate certain cytoplasmic germ cell-specific mRNAs. c | Gene expression of Rpl38 (pink) is highly increased in somites and the neural tube of developing mouse embryos and is responsible for translating specific homeobox (Hox) mRNAs that are necessary for axial skeletal patterning and the specification of PEA3-expressing motor neurons. d | Localized translation takes place in dendrites, far away from the cell body. mRNAs for ribosomal proteins are found in dendrites and can potentially form dendrite-specific ribosomes.