This is the blog for GW students taking Human Evolutionary Genetics. This site is for posting interesting tidbits on: the patterns and processes of human genetic variation;human origins and migration; molecular adaptations to environment, lifestyle and disease; ancient and forensic DNA analyses; and genealogical reconstructions.

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Monday, April 16, 2018

Non- potluck post (Trends in Genetics Journal) ->mRNA Translation Gone Awry: Translation Fidelity and Neurological Disease




It is generally known that mRNA translation is a crucial phase in proteins synthesis. However, the impairment in this process has been linked to multiple neurological disorders.
This review published last month in Trends in Genetics gives insight into the role of tRNAs and ribosomes in the accurate and precise translation and addresses some neurological disorders associated  to errors that occur in the process of translating mRNA.
As you know, translation of mRNA is the next step after DNA transcription and it is facilitated by ribosomes that translate the genetic information contained in the mRNA. In this process tRNAs play a major role where they bind the appropriate amino acids(aminoacylation of tRNAs) and carry them to the ribosome where they find the matching three-nucleotides sequences in a mRNA for the production of polypeptide. However, it happens that some errors occur in the process which may lead to some abnomarlities. As an example, authors of this review indicate how mutations in the enzymes that catalyze the tRNA aminoacylation may results to neurological disorders including epilepsy. They also mention how mutations in ribosomal proteins may be linked to disorders such as anemia and abnormalities in cranial facial development. In addition, errors in translation elongation phase have shown to result in the production of proteins with reduced or abnormal function which in turn has been associated to neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction effects.

 Given different findings discussed in this paper it appears that neurons are sensitive to the impaired mRNA translation and the current paper highlights the importance of translation fidelity.

Here below is the link for the paper:
https://ac.els-cdn.com/S0168952517302275/1-s2.0-S0168952517302275-main.pdf?_tid=8a50f71d-603a-469a-ad02-eb625c3dfb8f&acdnat=1523929568_537e143f5594231f945feeee99725335

Axelle

Second non-potluck post
publication  from Trends in Genetics journal

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