Beyond ribosome rescue: tmRNA and co-translational processes.
tmRNA is a unique bi-functional RNA that acts as both a tRNA and an mRNA to enter stalled ribosomes and direct the addition of a peptide tag to the C terminus of nascent polypeptides. Despite a reasonably clear understanding of tmRNA activity, the reason for its absolute conservation throughout the eubacteria is unknown. Although tmRNA plays many physiological roles in different bacterial systems, recent studies suggest a general role for trans-translation in monitoring protein folding and perhaps other co-translational processes. This review will focus on these new hypotheses and the data that support them.
Hayes
Christopher S
CS
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9610, USA.
Keiler
Kenneth C
KC
D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D017510:Protein Folding; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism*
D012329:RNA, Bacterial; C096222:tmRNA