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In all organisms, cytosolic ribosomes synthesizing membrane or secretory proteins are targeted to either the plasma membrane (prokaryotes) or the endoplasmic reticulum by a complex of RNA and protein called the signal recognition particle (SRP). Electron micrographs of unstained, freeze-dried Escherichia coli SRPs (a sample micrograph is shown in the background) were used to identify individual particle images and to calculate a three-dimensional reconstruction of E. coli SRP (orange transparent surface). E. coli SRP was observed as an elongated particle resembling the numeral 9. A three-dimensional map of the internal RNA obtained by electron spectroscopic imaging and existing crystallographic data of individual components and domains were used to construct a model (red, green, and blue ribbons) for the structure of E. coli SRP. See the full article by Mainprize et al. on p. 5063 in this issue of MBC. (Image: Iain L. Mainprize, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada)

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