Study reveals mechanism for translation of locally acquired mitochondrial genome

International collaboration among researchers from Finland, Sweden, the UK and the US has captured ribosomes translating messenger RNAs expressed from the acquired mitochondrial genome to native. Using the latest advances in a cryo-electron microscope, the group discovered a modern mechanism used by mitochondrial ribosomes for the synthesis and delivery of reconstituted proteins to prevent malignancy. return too soon. Disruption of protein synthesis can lead to devastating human diseases.

There is a familiar phrase, “It’s all in the genes”. As modern archeology unfolds, the gene-encoding DNA can be found among the remains of our ancestors and from any organism, large and small, that once movement on the ground. The genetic plan alone is not enough; life requires a sense of loyalty and translation of our genomes. Basic research in molecular biology has revealed in detail the ways in which these basic processes work. One of those progressive discoveries was the Nobel Prize winners François Jacob and Jacques Monod, who established the paradigm we are now known as gene gene, where the information in our genome is rewritten, read and converted into action proteins. Since then, researchers young and old have been filling in the details of these amazing processes to discover the complexity of biology.

In a recent study published in Science an international collaboration of researchers, including University of Helsinki researchers Dr Brendan Battersby and Dr Uwe Richter, builds on this tradition by highlighting the unique equipment for between translocation of the mitochondrial genome into proteins.

Within the cells that make up the bones and organs of our bodies, mitochondria divide the breakdown of nutrients with oxygen to convert cell energy. As a result, it is better known as the power of the cell. This function relies on a faithful expression of the locally acquired mitochondrial genome. Disruption of the process is the basis of a large group of human diseases that can strike at any age, varying in the tension and severity. Despite their importance, the molecular mechanisms of these processes have remained obscure. However, the advances in biological imaging brought about by cryo-electron microscopy now provide researchers with tools to study the actions of individual proteins at an unprecedented resolution and detail.

By combining forces with Dr. Alexey Amunts at Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet and Professor Antoni Barrientos at Miami Miller University School of Medicine, the group used the common knowledge to convert the mitochondrial ribosome translating RNA (mRNA) into protein. . The structure featured special gating equipment to prevent newly synthesized proteins from abusing prematurely. For proteins to work within our cells we need coordinated complex processes to get the right 3D shape. Effects on protein synthesis can have a profound effect on organisms and lead to destructive diseases.

“Getting a direct picture of a biological process we’ve studied for several years with biochemical and genetic devices is completely electronic!” Says Uwe Richter, the University’s first shared author and Principal Investigator Helsinki and Newcastle University.

“This study highlights the power and clarity of international collaborative science directed from the bottom up,” says Research Director Brendan Battersby, who is one of the co-authors. “There is a worrying shift among scientific funding bodies to direct research from the top toward targeted actions pursued by major consortia, and in the process losing research money away from researchers. half which is the cornerstone of scientific discovery.The best scientists are always looking out for each other to pursue the creativity of their ideas, which history shows undoubtedly leads to a very new in the end. “

“Understanding the exact details of these cellular mechanisms is important in influencing human diseases but also for the side effects of commonly prescribed antibiotics. A phrase has a lot of overexpression. mitochondrial gene and as a result many antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections can disturb our cell powerhouses, accounting for the side effects of these drugs. The unlocking of these ribosome structures is crucial in the development of new effective and safe antibiotics in the future, ultimately highlighting the importance of bottom-up baseline analysis and how it continues to drive innovation and we cannot afford to lose it, ”Drs. Battersby appears.