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Questions tagged [ribosome]

Organelles responsible for protein synthesis in cells. They are distinguished into "free" and "membrane-bound" classes.

Organelles responsible for protein synthesis in cells. They are distinguished into "free" and "membrane-bound" classes.

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What is the criticality of the ribosome binding site relative to the start codon in prokaryotic translation?

In prokaryotic translation, how critical for efficient translation is the location of the ribosome binding site, relative to the start codon? Ideally, it is supposed to be -7b away from the start. How about if it is -9 bases away or even more? Will…
Gergana Vandova
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Can DNA act as a translation substrate?

I get conflicting answers. One would think if it was true, it would be rather seminal and widely known. There are papers from Khorana[1], Holland[2], and Bretscher[3] (late 60s) that suggest that it is quite easy in the presence of antibiotics like…
mdna
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Why do 60S & 40S ribosomal subunits make an 80S ribosome (not 100S)?

Why do 60S & 40S subunits make an 80S (not 100S) ribosome and, similarly, 50S & 30S make 70S? 60+40 is not equal to 80, nor is 50+30 equal to 70, so why are the subunits of the 80S and 70S ribosomes named so weirdly? I couldn't come up with any…
roxaite
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Can I use multiple bicistronic RBS sequences in a synthetic biological circuit?

The bicistroninc RBS sequences (BCDs) developed by Mutalik et al. [1] aim to remove context sensitivity from translation and therefore ensure more predictable gene expression. However, I have been told that having multiple transcriptional units,…
ajhfedorec
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Peptides neither produced by the ribosome or the non-ribosomal peptide synthase complexes

I read in Wikipedia: While there exist a wide range of peptides that are not synthesized by ribosomes, the term nonribosomal peptide typically refers to a very specific set of these as discussed in this article. I was wondering what peptides…
Felix Z.
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How was the first ribosome theorized to have been made?

Seeing as ribosomes are what help perform the act of translation itself, and the blueprints for they themselves are in nucleotide sequences, how was the first ribosome theorized to have been made? Also, before there were any ribosome, how was…
mring
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RNA or ribosome, which one moves during translation?

During translation ribosomes decode the genetic information present in the mRNA and protein synthesis takes place. During this process which of those two does move, the ribosome or the mRNA?
balaka
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Sequence of ribosomal RNA

Is it possible to sequence rRNA directly, that is, using the ribosome rather than the DNA from the nucleus? For example, this paper, Complete nucleotide sequence of a 16s rRNA gene from E. coli, suggests that it uses DNA to find the sequence. Would…
ohblahitsme
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What prevents non-aminoacylated tRNA from binding to mRNA on the ribosome and disrupting protein synthesis?

Specific aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyse a reaction in which a transfer RNA molecule with a given anticodon is covalently attached to its cognate amino acid (aminoacylated). What factors favor the binding to the ribosome/mRNA of an aminoacylated…
Joseph Hirsch
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What exactly happens if during translation, an amino acid is not present?

Lets say that the cell wants to make a particular protein. Transcription of the appropriate gene is done and the mRNA is made. mRNA attaches to the ribosome and the translation is initiated in a "normal" way. What exactly would happen if an amino…
biogirl
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How can a good SD / Kozak sequence enhance translation efficiency?

In prokaryotes, if there is an mRNA with a good (almost the consensus sequence) Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence, ribosome proteins will bind to it. In eukaryotes, ribosome binds to the 5' cap, then start sliding until it finds a good Kozak sequence and…
Questions
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Can ribosomes read ssDNA?

My question is whether translation can be done, either naturally or artificially, through a ribosome reading (single-stranded) DNA directly. If not, I would like to know what allows ssRNA to be translated but not ssDNA.
user38945
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How do ribosomes contribute to their own synthesis?

In other words, what products synthesized by ribosomes are actual parts of ribosomes (if any)? How are they involved in their own synthesis otherwise? What is the cycle/chain of products starting with the proteins synthesized by ribosomes and…
pointernil
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What is the advantage of the way eukaryotes initiate translation?

The eukaryote and prokaryote mechanism for translation is slightly different. Is there any advantage of the eukaryote translation mechanism ? Edit : I specifically want to know why eukaryotic ribosome first attaches to tRNA and then to mRNA but…
biogirl
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Is it possible to sequence only the 16S rRNA component? If so, how?

There have recently been several papers on using 16S rRNA as a way of identifying species (here, and here). I'm wondering if it's possible to sequence either just that subunit of the ribosome or just the sequence of DNA that it comes from (probably…
ohblahitsme
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