Investigating Bacterial Protein Synthesis Using Systems Biology Approaches

Protein synthesis is essential for bacterial growth and survival. Its study in Escherichia coli helped uncover features conserved among bacteria as well as universally. The pattern of discovery and the identification of some of the longest-known components of the protein synthesis machinery, including the ribosome itself, tRNAs, and translation factors proceeded through many stages of successively more refined biochemical purifications, finally culminating in the isolation to homogeneity, identification, and mapping of the smallest unit required for performing the given function. These early studies produced a wealth of information. However, many unknowns remained. Systems biology approaches provide an opportunity to investigate protein synthesis from a global perspective, overcoming the limitations of earlier ad hoc methods to gain unprecedented insights. This chapter reviews innovative systems biology approaches, with an emphasis on those designed specifically for investigating the protein synthesis machinery in E. coli.