Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Functional Surface-immobilization of Genes Using Multistep Strand Displacement Lithography
Published on: October 25, 2018
Novel Functions and Potential of Ribosomes: From Cellular Transdifferentiation to Applications in Cell-Cultured Foods
Shota Inoue1, Hiroaki Hatano2, Ikko Kawashima2
1Department of Stem Cell Biology, Graduate School of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-Ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
Ribosomes have non-canonical functions beyond protein synthesis. Exogenous ribosomes can reprogram somatic cells, promoting differentiation and offering potential in regenerative medicine and biotechnology.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Ribosomes are traditionally known as intracellular protein synthesis machinery.
- Emerging research indicates ribosomal proteins have non-canonical functions in cell fate, development, and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging concepts of extracellular ribosome functions.
- To highlight ribosome-induced cellular plasticity and transdifferentiation.
- To explore potential applications in regenerative medicine and biotechnology.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on extracellular ribosome functions.
- Analysis of experimental data on exogenous ribosome incorporation into somatic cells.
- Integration of paracrine signaling with ribosome-mediated cell fate conversion.
Main Results:
- Exogenous ribosomes can reprogram somatic cells into a multipotent state.
- Ribosome incorporation promotes differentiation into multiple cell lineages.
- Secreted factors from ribosome-incorporated cells play a role in cell fate conversion.
Conclusions:
- Ribosomes act as active regulators of cellular identity beyond translation.
- Ribosome-mediated cell fate regulation offers a new perspective in cell biology.
- Potential applications exist in regenerative medicine and sustainable biotechnology.
More Related Videos
11:57Studying Protein Function and the Role of Altered Protein Expression by Antibody Interference and Three-dimensional Reconstructions
Published on: April 21, 2016
07:35Rapid, Enzymatic Methods for Amplification of Minimal, Linear Templates for Protein Prototyping using Cell-Free Systems
Published on: June 14, 2021
Related Concept Videos
02:24Ribosome Profiling
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...
01:27Ribosomes
Ribosome Structure and Assembly
Ribosomes are composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins. In eukaryotes, rRNA is transcribed from genes in the nucleolus—a part of the nucleus that specializes in ribosome...
01:27Ribosomes
Ribosome Structure and Assembly
Ribosomes are composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins. In eukaryotes, rRNA is transcribed from genes in the nucleolus—a part of the nucleus that specializes in ribosome...
01:27Ribosomes
01:27Ribosomes
01:20The Central Dogma
RNA is the Missing Link Between DNA and Proteins
In the early 1900s, scientists discovered that DNA stores all the information needed for cellular functions and that proteins perform most of these functions. However, the mechanisms of converting genetic information into functional proteins remained unknown for many years. Initially, it was believed that a single gene is...