Evolutionary conservation of reactions in translation.
Current X-ray diffraction and cryoelectron microscopic data of ribosomes of eubacteria have shed considerable light on the molecular mechanisms of translation. Structural studies of the protein factors that activate ribosomes also point to many common features in the primary sequence and tertiary structure of these proteins. The reconstitution of the complex apparatus of translation has also revealed new information important to the mechanisms. Surprisingly, the latter approach has uncovered a number of proteins whose sequence and/or structure and function are conserved in all cells, indicating that the mechanisms are indeed conserved. The possible mechanisms of a new initiation factor and two elongation factors are discussed in this context.
C. H. Best Institute, Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1L6. mganoza@utoronto.ca
M Clelia
MC
Ganoza
Michael C
MC
Kiel
Hiroyuki
H
Aoki
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D039601:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010441:Peptide Chain Elongation, Translational / Q000502:physiology; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000097574:Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5A
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D039601:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D020365:RNA Helicases; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097574:Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5A; C111584:YEF3 protein, S cerevisiae