Peng, Bee-ZenBee-ZenPengBock, Lars V.Lars V.BockBelardinelli, RiccardoRiccardoBelardinelliPeske, FrankFrankPeskeGrubmüller, HelmutHelmutGrubmüllerRodnina, Marina V.Marina V.Rodnina2020-04-032020-04-032019https://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gro-2/63649During translation, the ribosome moves along the mRNA one codon at a time with the help of elongation factor G (EF-G). Spontaneous changes in the translational reading frame are extremely rare, yet how the precise triplet-wise step is maintained is not clear. Here, we show that the ribosome is prone to spontaneous frameshifting on mRNA slippery sequences, whereas EF-G restricts frameshifting. EF-G helps to maintain the mRNA reading frame by guiding the A-site transfer RNA during translocation due to specific interactions with the tip of EF-G domain 4. Furthermore, EF-G accelerates ribosome rearrangements that restore the ribosome's control over the codon-anticodon interaction at the end of the movement. Our data explain how the mRNA reading frame is maintained during translation.enjournal_article10.1126/sciadv.aax803031903418