The dissociation of RQT complex on ribosome

Ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) represents a rescue pathway in eukaryotic cells triggered upon translational stalling. Collided ribosomes are recognized for subsequent dissociation followed by targeting of the faulty nascent peptides for degradation. However, endogenous RQC inducing sequences and the mechanism underlying the ubiquitin-dependent ribosome dissociation remain poorly understood. Here, we identified the SDD1 mRNA from S. cerevisiae as an endogenous RQC substrate and reveal its mRNA and nascent peptide dependent stalling mechanism by mutational and cryo-EM analyses. In vitro translation of SDD1 mRNA enabled the reconstitution of Hel2-dependent poly-ubiquitination of colliding di- and preferentially tri-ribosomes. Their distinct architecture is visualized by cryo-EM and provides the structural basis for more efficient recognition by Hel2 over disomes. Subsequently, the Slh1/Rqt2 helicase subunit of the RQC trigger (RQT) complex preferentially dissociates the first stalled poly-ubiquitinated ribosome in an ATP dependent manner. Together, these findings provide fundamental mechanistic insights into RQC and its physiological role in dealing with endogenous substrates to maintain cellular protein homeostasis.