Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2026
09:45
Measuring mRNA Levels Over Time During the Yeast S. cerevisiae Hypoxic Response
Published on: August 10, 2017
Correlation between protein and mRNA abundance in yeast
S P Gygi1, Y Rochon, B R Franza
1Department of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-7730, USA.
Molecular and Cellular Biology
|February 18, 1999
Summary
Messenger RNA (mRNA) levels do not accurately predict protein expression in yeast. Protein levels can vary significantly even when mRNA levels are constant, highlighting limitations in gene expression analysis.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Yeast Genetics
- Proteomics
Background:
- Understanding the relationship between mRNA and protein expression is crucial for deciphering cellular function.
- Previous studies have suggested a correlation, but quantitative discrepancies remain.
- Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a model organism for studying fundamental biological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively determine the relationship between mRNA and protein expression levels in yeast.
- To assess the predictive power of mRNA levels for protein expression.
- To identify limitations in current gene expression analysis techniques.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for protein separation.
- Capillary liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for protein identification.
- Metabolic labeling and scintillation counting for protein quantification.
- Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) for mRNA quantification.
Main Results:
- A weak correlation was found between mRNA and protein expression levels.
- Protein levels varied over 20-fold for genes with similar mRNA levels.
- Protein levels remained constant despite 30-fold variations in mRNA levels.
- Codon bias did not predict either mRNA or protein levels.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative mRNA analysis is insufficient to predict protein expression levels.
- Significant post-transcriptional regulation exists in yeast.
- Current methods for quantitative protein analysis have technical limitations.
More Related Videos
12:57Genome-wide Quantification of Translation in Budding Yeast by Ribosome Profiling
Published on: December 21, 2017
09:21Saccharomyces cerevisiae Metabolic Labeling with 4-thiouracil and the Quantification of Newly Synthesized mRNA As a Proxy for RNA Polymerase II Activity
Published on: October 22, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:28Yeast Signaling
Yeasts are single-celled organisms, but unlike bacteria, they are eukaryotes (cells with a nucleus). Cell signaling in yeast is similar to signaling in other eukaryotic cells. A ligand, such as a protein or a small molecule released from a yeast cell, attaches to a receptor on the cell surface. The binding stimulates second-messenger kinases to activate or inactivate transcription factors that further regulate gene expression. Many of the yeast intracellular signaling cascades have similar...
02:51mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
02:24Ribosome Profiling
Ribosome profiling or ribo-sequencing is a deep sequencing technique that produces a snapshot of active translation in a cell. It selectively sequences the mRNAs protected by ribosomes to get an insight into a cell’s translation landscape at any given point in time.
Applications of ribosome profiling
Ribosome profiling has many applications, including in vivo monitoring of translation inside a particular organ or tissue type and quantifying new protein synthesis levels.
The technique helps...
Applications of ribosome profiling
Ribosome profiling has many applications, including in vivo monitoring of translation inside a particular organ or tissue type and quantifying new protein synthesis levels.
The technique helps...
02:51mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
01:23Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps
The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the addition of a...