Figure 6. A model for cytoplasmic maturation of the pre‐40S subunit through series of interdependent conformational changes.

The boxed region of the scheme represents a single species and highlights the conformationally coupled changes upon the release of individual assembly factors in rRNA conformation between the pre‐40S (white, changing part in pink) and the mature 40S (gray, changed part in dark gray) without implying a sequential order. The tilt and rotation of the head as well as conformational changes in helix 34, helix 44, and helix 28 are interconnected such that conformational changes in the beak, the subunit interface, and the platform lead to the release of AFs from their respective binding sites.