Ribosome and translation factors

The ribosome and its associated translation factors constitute the complex molecular machinery responsible for protein synthesis in all living cells. This apparatus consists of the large and small ribosomal subunits—composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and numerous ribosomal proteins—alongside a suite of auxiliary proteins known as initiation, elongation, and termination factors [1]. In prokaryotes, the ribosome is a primary target for a wide range of antibiotic classes, such as aminoglycosides, macrolides, and tetracyclines, which exploit structural differences between bacterial and eukaryotic ribosomes to achieve selective toxicity [2]. In eukaryotes, dysregulation of translation factors, particularly initiation factors like eIF4E, is frequently linked to oncogenesis and tumor progression, making them attractive targets for novel cancer therapies [3]. Furthermore, mutations in ribosomal proteins or assembly factors lead to a group of genetic disorders known as ribosomopathies, such as Diamond-Blackfan anemia [4]. Drugs targeting this system typically act by sterically hindering the binding of transfer RNA (tRNA), inhibiting peptidyl transferase activity, or preventing the translocation of the mRNA-tRNA complex [5]. Citations: [1] Nature Education (2014) 'The Ribosome'; [2] Wilson, D. N. (2014) Nature Reviews Microbiology; [3] Bhat, M., et al. (2015) Nature Reviews Drug Discovery; [4] Narla, A., & Ebert, B. L. (2010) Blood; [5] Yonath, A. (2005) Annual Review of Biochemistry.

Other names

Protein synthesis machineryTranslational apparatusRibosomal proteins and translation factorsTranslation machinery

Inhibition of protein synthesis by binding to ribosomal subunits (30S, 50S, 40S, or 60S) to block tRNA binding, inhibit peptidyl transferase activity, or prevent ribosomal translocation along mRNA.