Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Initiation of Translation02:33

Initiation of Translation

38.0K
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...
38.0K
Initiation of Translation02:33

Initiation of Translation

7.7K
7.7K
Translation01:31

Translation

17.3K
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...
17.3K
Translation01:31

Translation

154.7K
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...
154.7K
Leaky Scanning02:28

Leaky Scanning

5.5K
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...
5.5K
Improving Translational Accuracy02:07

Improving Translational Accuracy

13.9K
Base complementarity between the three base pairs of mRNA codon and the tRNA anticodon is not a failsafe mechanism. Inaccuracies can range from a single mismatch to no correct base pairing at all. The free energy difference between the correct and nearly correct base pairs can be as small as 3 kcal/ mol. With complementarity being the only proofreading step, the estimated error frequency would be one wrong amino acid in every 100 amino acids incorporated. However, error frequencies observed in...
13.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Development of a Live-Cell Imaging Assay to Elucidate Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Extracellular Vesicle Fusion with Target Cells.

Journal of extracellular vesicles·2026
Same author

Live-cell single-vRNP imaging identifies viral gene expression signatures that shape influenza infection heterogeneity.

Cell systems·2026
Same author

Pre-assembly of biomolecular condensate seeds drives RSV replication.

Nature·2026
Same author

Cell-surface RNA forms ternary complex with RNA-binding proteins and heparan sulfate to recruit immune receptors.

Molecular cell·2025
Same author

Visualizing infection by single positive-sense RNA viruses using virus infection real-time imaging (VIRIM).

Nature protocols·2025
Same author

WEE1 inhibitors trigger GCN2-mediated activation of the integrated stress response.

Nature communications·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 20, 2025

Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale
10:56

Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale

Published on: May 17, 2014

69.6K

Heterogeneity in mRNA Translation.

Stijn Sonneveld1, Bram M P Verhagen1, Marvin E Tanenbaum1

  • 1Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute - KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Trends in Cell Biology
|May 29, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Messenger RNA (mRNA) translation can produce diverse proteins from a single gene, challenging the notion of precise genetic information transfer. This review explores the causes and potential cellular roles of this translational heterogeneity.

Keywords:
mRNAribosometranslational heterogeneity

More Related Videos

In vivo Interrogation of Central Nervous System Translatome by Polyribosome Fractionation
09:13

In vivo Interrogation of Central Nervous System Translatome by Polyribosome Fractionation

Published on: April 30, 2014

12.6K
Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment
10:24

Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment

Published on: September 27, 2015

11.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 20, 2025

Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale
10:56

Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale

Published on: May 17, 2014

69.6K
In vivo Interrogation of Central Nervous System Translatome by Polyribosome Fractionation
09:13

In vivo Interrogation of Central Nervous System Translatome by Polyribosome Fractionation

Published on: April 30, 2014

12.6K
Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment
10:24

Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment

Published on: September 27, 2015

11.0K

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • mRNA translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from messenger RNA templates.
  • High precision in translation is generally assumed for accurate protein synthesis.
  • Recent findings reveal significant heterogeneity in mRNA translation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular mechanisms underlying translational heterogeneity.
  • To discuss the potential biological functions of translational heterogeneity.
  • To address whether heterogeneity is functional or stochastic noise.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of experimental evidence on translational heterogeneity.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms governing translation.
  • Discussion of functional implications in cellular processes.

Main Results:

  • Translation exhibits significant variability, even for identical mRNA molecules within a single cell.
  • A single mRNA can yield multiple distinct polypeptide products.
  • Translation rates vary dynamically in both spatial and temporal dimensions.

Conclusions:

  • Translational heterogeneity is a complex phenomenon with diverse molecular underpinnings.
  • The functional significance of translational heterogeneity is an active area of research.
  • Distinguishing functional roles from random noise in translation is a key challenge.