Trans-translation and protein synthesis inhibitors

Trans-translation is a process found in all bacteria, which contributes to the release of ribosomes that are stalled through a variety of causes, for example when the 3' end of a truncated mRNA lacking a stop codon is reached or at internal clusters of rare codons. Trans-translation requires tmRNA. Trans-translation is not essential for cell viability under laboratory conditions, but recently it has been shown that it can contribute to cell viability in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors. In this minireview, we consider the connection between trans-translation and antibiotics and the potential of using trans-translation as a therapeutic target.