"The ribosome is in some respects the prototypical nanomachine," says Jamie Cate, a UC Berkeley professor of biochemistry, molecular biology, and chemistry.

Cate is among the leaders in the current effort to map the ribosome's structure. Since its discovery in the 1950s, the ribosome has largely rebuffed scientists' attempts to study its structure in detail. What it looked like—and therefore how its parts operated—remained in frustratingly soft focus. Cate's work has provided some of the clearest images of the ribosome to date. His results are not only unveiling new aspects of this critical cellular component, but could eventually lead to designs for an entirely new generation of antibiotics.

»sciencematters.berkeley.edu/arch···ory2.php