Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
09:13
In vivo Interrogation of Central Nervous System Translatome by Polyribosome Fractionation
Published on: April 30, 2014
The ribonome: a dominant force in co-ordinating gene expression
Kyle D Mansfield1, Jack D Keene
1Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA.
Biology of the Cell
|January 21, 2009
Summary
The ribonome, comprising RNAs and proteins, acts as a central cellular coordinator. This ancient system manages gene expression and evolution, potentially enabling inter-cellular communication and the development of multicellular life.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Systems Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The ribonome encompasses all cellular RNAs and regulatory factors within ribonucleoprotein complexes.
- It functions dynamically in space and time, integrating cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theorize the ribonome as an ancient central co-ordinator.
- To explore its multi-level communication with the proteome and transcriptome.
- To investigate its role in biological information transfer and evolution.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical framework development.
- Analysis of RNA-binding protein dynamics.
- Post-transcriptional RNA operon theory application.
Main Results:
- The ribonome communicates with the proteome (feed-forward) and transcriptome (feed-back).
- Horizontal cellular communication is proposed, impacting RNA and DNA operating systems.
- Post-transcriptional RNA operons regulate gene expression and RNP remodelling.
Conclusions:
- The ribonome acts as a core operating system, governing gene expression outcomes.
- RNA-binding proteins within the ribonome maintain mRNA balance.
- Ribonomic systems facilitate information management for multicellularity evolution.
Related Concept Videos
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...
01:29Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria
The DNA replication, transcription, and translation processes are intricately coupled in bacteria, allowing efficient gene expression and rapid protein synthesis. While this physical and functional coordination is advantageous, it introduces challenges that bacteria overcome through specific regulatory mechanisms.Coupling of Replication, Transcription, and TranslationThe coupling of replication, transcription, and translation is a hallmark of bacterial gene expression. As the replisome unwinds...
01:23Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches
Riboswitches are RNA elements that regulate gene expression by altering their secondary structures in response to specific effector molecules. These elements, located in the leader regions of certain mRNAs, act as transcriptional regulators by toggling between alternative conformations to control downstream gene expression. Riboswitch-mediated regulation is a precise mechanism for modulating biosynthetic pathways, as exemplified by the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway in Bacillus...
02:24Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
02:24Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
02:53Ribosomal RNA Synthesis
Ribosome synthesis is a highly complex and coordinated process involving more than 200 assembly factors. The synthesis and processing of ribosomal components occurs not only in the nucleolus but also in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...