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Related Concept Videos

Translation01:31

Translation

156.4K
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...
156.4K
Translation01:31

Translation

17.8K
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...
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Metal-Ligand Bonds02:51

Metal-Ligand Bonds

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The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
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Initiation of Translation02:33

Initiation of Translation

39.0K
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...
39.0K
Termination of Translation01:44

Termination of Translation

27.7K
The large ribosomal subunit has several important structures essential to translation. These include the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) - which is the site where the peptide bond is formed - and a large, internal, water-filled tube through which the nascent polypeptide moves. This latter structure is called the Peptide Exit Tunnel, and it begins at the PTC and spans the body of the large ribosomal subunit. During translation, as the nascent polypeptide chain is synthesized, it passes through...
27.7K
Bonding in Metals02:32

Bonding in Metals

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Metallic bonds are formed between two metal atoms. A simplified model to describe metallic bonding has been developed by Paul Drüde called the “Electron Sea Model”. 
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Ligand-Mediated Nucleation and Growth of Palladium Metal Nanoparticles
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Ligand-Mediated Nucleation and Growth of Palladium Metal Nanoparticles

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Multiple prebiotic metals mediate translation.

Marcus S Bray1, Timothy K Lenz2, Jay William Haynes2

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|November 11, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ancient Earth conditions may have influenced early ribosome function. Iron (Fe2+) and Manganese (Mn2+) can replace Magnesium (Mg2+) in the translation system, suggesting their role in early ribosomal evolution.

Keywords:
ironmagnesiummanganeseribosometranslation

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Astrobiology

Background:

  • Magnesium (Mg2+) is a critical cofactor for the ribosome, the molecular machine responsible for protein synthesis.
  • The early Earth environment was characterized by low oxygen and high concentrations of iron (Fe2+) and manganese (Mn2+).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if ancient Earth conditions could restore the ribosome to a primordial functional state.
  • To determine if Fe2+ and Mn2+ can substitute for Mg2+ in rRNA folding and protein synthesis.

Main Methods:

  • Selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) to assess rRNA tertiary structure.
  • In vitro translation assays to evaluate protein production.
  • Quantification of metal ion content associated with the ribosome.

Main Results:

  • Mg2+, Fe2+, and Mn2+ exhibited similar effects on rRNA folding.
  • Fe2+ and Mn2+ effectively replaced Mg2+ in mediating mRNA translation to functional proteins.
  • Significant association of Fe and Mn with ribosomal structures was observed.

Conclusions:

  • Fe2+ and Mn2+ can functionally replace Mg2+ in the ribosome.
  • These findings support the hypothesis that Fe2+ and Mn2+ played a role in the evolution of the translation system under early Earth conditions.