Ribosome pausing, ribosome drop-off, an interesting study in the links between codons and translation in S. cerevisiae:
https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1012162
#science #ribosome #rna #codons
The importance of nonsense errors: Estimating the rates and implications of ribosome drop-off during protein synthesis
Author summary The process of translating mRNA into a protein is both energetically expensive and relatively error-prone. As such, natural selection is thought to shape the evolution of protein-coding genes to reduce the cost of these errors when they occur. Nonsense errors (NSEs) occur when a ribosome stops translation before completing a functional protein, resulting in wasted energy on a non-functional product. Despite their functional consequences, NSEs and their effects on coding sequence evolution are generally understudied compared to other types of translation errors. This is in part due to the challenge of quantifying these errors from omics-scale data. We present a model for quantifying codon-specific estimates of elongation and NSE rates from ribosome profiling data, which gives a snapshot of the actively translating ribosomes in a cell. Although it is well-established that sense codons vary in their elongation rates, we find evidence that codons also vary in their NSE rates. Using our parameter estimates, we find multiple lines of evidence for selection against NSEs shaping patterns of codon usage bias. Our results suggest the cost of NSEs is comparable to the cost of ribosome pausing, and thus may play a greater role in coding sequence evolution than previously appreciated.
Pathogenic variants in the
#ribosome -associated endoribonuclease SLFN14 cause inherited
#thrombocytopenia, but why? This study shows that type II
#tRNA cleavage by mutant SLFN14 drives global translational repression and cell death
@PLOSBiology https://plos.io/3QegRCk
Protein synthesis model
A practical demonstration of protein synthesis using the Bio'Manip laser-cut wooden model, designed to facilitate the understanding of molecular biology thro...
Could the
#ribosome be a selfish element?
@mkrupovic & Eugene Koonin propose that the
#evolution of life can viewed as a ribosomal takeover, where the ribosome evolved to consume most of the cell’s resources.
#OriginsOfLifehttps://plos.io/3OPZszf
The selfish ribosome
In this Essay, the evolution of life is construed as a ribosomal takeover, whereby the ribosome evolved to consume most of the cell’s resources, while other cellular componentry ensured the propagation of the ribosome. Under this perspective, the ribosome is seen as the ultimate biological selfish element.
"Dynamics of A-Minor Interactions in the Bacterial Ribosome"
Christian Steinmetzger talked at #Biochemistry2026 about his work on this topic in the group of Katja Petzold.
#Biochemistry #Ribosome #Chemistry #ChemBio #NMR
CC: @gdch
How can nature make #peptides covering chemical space beyond the 20 proteinogenic amino acids using the #ribosome?
Wilfred van der Donk talked at #Biochemistry2026 about the power of ribosomally-synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides #RiPPs.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/np/d0np00027b
#Biochemistry #Chemistry #ChemBio
How can nature make
#peptides covering chemical space beyond the proteinogenic amino acids using the
#ribosome?
Wilfred van der Donk talked at
#Biochemistry2026 about the power of ribosomally-synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides
#RiPPs.
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
#Biochemistry
Low Dose of Lead Causes Activation of Ribosomal Cistrons 15 Chromatids Associated with Malignant Growth - Cytology and Genetics
Abstract Inactivation some regions of chromatin, heterochromatinization, can be caused by heavy metal lead. Normal blood levels of lead in children and adults are within the 0.1–0.2 μM range. Higher levels of 0.5–5 μM are known to have deleterious effects on digestive, respiratory, nervous, renal and reproductive tissues. The study results indicated that after induced with PbCl2 at a concentration of – 0.5 × 10–3 M and 0.5 × 10–4 M with 24– and 48 h of incubation in the human lymphocyte culture the number of chromosome aberration per cell, were significantly higher (results of heterochromatinization) than in the control group. Exposure to PbCl2 at a concentration of – 0.5 × 10–4 M during 24-h incubation indicated the activity of chromatids 15 chromosomes entering into associations (15 > 21 > 22 = 14 > 13) and the activity of chromatid in association of 15:15 chromosomes (15:15 > 13:13 = 14:14 = 21:21 = 22:22) increased significantly compared to the control (21 > 14 > 22 > 13 > 15) (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). The results obtained indicate that low dose (0.5 × 10–4 M) of PbCl2 reveals the activity of 15 chromatids (characteristic for Breast and Lung cancer) than high mutagenic dose (0.5 × 10–3 M) when the activity of 15 chromatids is not observed. We suggest that the epigenetic activity of ribosomal cistrons of the 15 chromatid is associated with malignant growth. Our study of the activity of ribosomal cistrons of acrocentric chromatids in pathologies (Breast and Lung cancers, Down syndrome) is a new direction in medicine, indicating the contribute to the development of preventive, the diagnosis of diseases and defining a new treatment strategy in the future.
COVID-19 mRNA "vaccines" are NOT vaccines
Cosmin Saveanu
PLOS Biology
cnadia
GDCh Division of Biochemistry
Stephan Hacker
Stephan Hacker
All Scientifical
Cytology and Genetics
Andreas Kalcker