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Protein Biosynthesis: History
Please note this is an old version of this entry, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Contributor: Yu Peng

Protein biosynthesis is the cellular process through which polypeptides are synthesized by the ribosomal translation of messenger RNA [1]. The process is defined by the coordinated action of ribosomes, messenger RNA templates, transfer RNAs, and protein factors that together decode nucleotide sequences into amino acid sequences. Initiation establishes a ribosomal complex at the beginning of the coding region, bringing the template and initiator transfer RNA into functional proximity [2]. Translation factors coordinate the assembly, rearrangement, and progression of this complex through successive stages [3]. In eukaryotic scanning, recognition of a suitable initiation codon triggers factor release and joining of the large ribosomal subunit, establishing the reading frame for subsequent amino acid incorporation [4]. Aminoacyl-transfer RNAs deliver successive residues, and the large subunit catalyzes peptide-bond formation between the growing chain and the incoming amino acid. Its RNA-based active site positions the substrates and contributes to the chemistry of the reaction [5]. Repeated elongation continues until a termination signal promotes release of the completed chain [4].

  • translation
  • aminoacyl-tRNA
  • peptide bonds
  • ribosomal subunits

Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism·Biochemistry·Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology·Life Sciences

References

  1. Lee D. Kapp; Jon R. Lorsch; The Molecular Mechanics of Eukaryotic Translation. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 2004, 73, 657-704, 10.1146/annurev.biochem.73.030403.080419.
  2. Richard J. Jackson; Christopher U. T. Hellen; Tatyana V. Pestova; The Mechanism of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation and Principles of its Regulation. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 2010, 11, 113-127, 10.1038/nrm2838.
  3. Colin Echeverría Aitken; Jon R Lorsch; A Mechanistic Overview of Translation Initiation in Eukaryotes. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 2012, 19, 568-576, 10.1038/nsmb.2303.
  4. Alan G. Hinnebusch; Molecular Mechanism of Scanning and Start Codon Selection in Eukaryotes. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 2011, 75, 434-467, 10.1128/mmbr.00008-11.
  5. Miljan Simonović; Thomas A. Steitz; A Structural View on the Mechanism of the Ribosome-catalyzed Peptide Bond Formation. Biochim. et Biophys. Acta (BBA) Gene Regul. Mech. 2009, 1789, 612-623, 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2009.06.006.
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