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Synonymous codons, ribosome speed, and eukaryotic gene expression regulation

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Abstract

Quantitative control of gene expression occurs at multiple levels, including the level of translation. Within the overall process of translation, most identified regulatory processes impinge on the initiation phase. However, recent studies have revealed that the elongation phase can also regulate translation if elongation and initiation occur with specific, not mutually compatible rate parameters. Translation elongation then limits the overall amount of protein that can be made from an mRNA. Several recently discovered control mechanisms of biological pathways are based on such elongation control. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms that determine ribosome speed in eukaryotic organisms, and discuss under which conditions ribosome speed can become the controlling parameter of gene expression levels.

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Acknowledgments

TvdH acknowledges support for work relevant to the topic of this review from the Royal Society, UK (RG090785) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK (I010351).

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  1. Kent Fungal Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, UK

    Daniel Tarrant & Tobias von der Haar

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Tarrant, D., von der Haar, T. Synonymous codons, ribosome speed, and eukaryotic gene expression regulation. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 71, 4195–4206 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-014-1684-2

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  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-014-1684-2

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