New insights into the way proteins are made by the cell
New insights into the way proteins are made by the cell
The Division of Molecular and Cellular Science recently published the following article in the journal Molecular and Cellular Biology:
Identification of internal ribosome entry segment (IRES)-trans-acting factors for the Myc family of IRESs..
Cobbold LC, Spriggs KA, Haines SJ, Dobbyn HC, Hayes C, de Moor CH, Lilley KS, Bushell M, Willis AE.
School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Building, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
Lay summary:
Gene expression is the way in which the cell uses DNA as instructions for making proteins. The process is extensively regulated and carefully managed. In a healthy cell, changes in gene expression allow the cell to adapt to changes in conditions. Myc is a cellular protein that is involved in regulation of the expression of numerous other genes and is itself highly regulated. If myc is altered, either in its levels or in its structure then this can cause cancer. Synthesis of the myc protein is unusual in that the protein synthesis machinery is recruited differently and assembles at a unique site on the intermediate RNA. This paper identifies other proteins that are involved in myc regulation and includes experiments that study the way these proteins bind to the myc RNA and how they affect myc protein synthesis. Myc is a good model for the study of this alternative mechanism of protein synthesis. In addition, research into genes that are involved in cancer is vital to improving our understanding of the disease
Click on the title of the publication (above) to see the abstract and full details