Translation initiation factors and their relevance in cancer

Columba de la Parra1, Beth A Walters1, Phillip Geter1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.

Insights

Altered translation initiation factors are key drivers in cancer development, impacting cell survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis. These factors represent promising novel targets for cancer pharmacologic intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Deregulation of translation initiation factors is a common hallmark in various cancers.
  • These factors play critical roles beyond ancillary support, actively participating in cellular transformation and tumor progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the established roles of translation initiation factors in cancer development and progression.
  • To highlight novel therapeutic targets and methods for studying translational regulation in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on translation initiation factors in cancer.
  • Analysis of the involvement of these factors in cancer cell survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis.
  • Examination of unique methodologies for investigating translational control.

Main Results:

  • Translation initiation factors are integral to cancer cell survival, metastasis, and tumor angiogenesis.
  • Altered expression of these factors is implicated in tumor development and progression.
  • These factors represent emerging targets for pharmacological treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Translation initiation factors are critical mediators in oncogenesis.
  • Targeting translation initiation factors offers a promising avenue for novel cancer therapies.
  • Further research into their mechanisms and study methods is warranted.

Related Concept Videos

Translation01:31

Translation

Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
Proteins are...
18.2K
Translation01:31

Translation

Lesson: Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of...
157.5K
Leaky Scanning02:28

Leaky Scanning

During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...
5.8K
Initiation of Translation02:33

Initiation of Translation

Initiating translation is complex because it involves multiple molecules. Initiator tRNA, ribosomal subunits, and eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) are all required to assemble on the initiation codon of mRNA. This process consists of several steps that are mediated by different eIFs.
First, the initiator tRNA must be selected from the pool of elongator tRNAs by eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). The initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAi) has conserved sequence elements including modified bases at...
39.5K
Initiation of Translation02:33

Initiation of Translation

8.2K
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
11.5K