The full ribosome structure used in this visualization is from Thermus thermophilus. The presence of mRNA,as well as tRNAs in the A,P, and E sites, makes the major functional regions conspicuous.
This interactive tool uses a very large structure and so you must allow time for it to load in subsequent windows.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN.

The models of the ribosome structure used in this online presentation 1jgo and 1giy can be accessed from the Protein Data Bank
See Yusupov MM, Yusupova GZ, Baucom A, Lieberman K, Earnest TN, Cate JH, and Noller HF. 2001. Crystal structure of the ribosome at 5.5 Å resolution. Science 292:883-896. Epub 2001 Mar 29. and Yusupov MM, Yusupova GZ, Baucom A, Lieberman K, Earnest TN, Cate JH, and Noller HF. 2001. The path of messenger RNA through the ribosome. Cell 106:233-241.

Acknowledgements

The interface herein for visulaizing sites of ribosomal modificaiton in 3D was adapted by Wayne Decatur from FirstGlance in Jmol, which is a simple, free tool for macromolecular visualization. FirstGlance in Jmol is copyright © 2006 by Eric Martz. Development of FirstGlance in Jmol was supported by a grant from the Division of Undergraduate Education of the US National Science Foundation (Award 9980909), and by the University of Massachusetts. FirstGlance in Jmol would not be possible without the free, open-source java applet Jmol. Thanks are due many people who have selflessly contributed their time and expertise to creating Jmol. Special thanks are due Miguel Howard for the quality and quantity of his programming contributions to the Jmol project.