Biologists at Moscow State University have discovered a "molecular timer" - a special mechanism for regulating protein synthesis, which prevents the formation of abnormal molecules by stuck ribosomes. According to scientists, the discovery will help create therapeutic methods to fight cancer.
The direct product of active genes is a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which contains untranslated regions. Although they do not encode information about the amino acid sequence of a protein, these regions regulate the life cycle of the molecule. Other proteins or short RNAs are also attached to the untranslated regions, which suppress or stimulate protein synthesis.
The "molecular timer" was discovered when studying the regulation of translation of the Amd1 protein. The corresponding mRNA contains a stop codon - a triplet (triplet) of nucleotides that interrupt protein synthesis by the ribosome. However, in rare cases, the ribosome can recognize the stop codon as an amino acid and move on. After the stop codon, the Amd1 mRNA contains a stuck signal that prevents the ribosome from advancing. This prevents the formation of abnormal proteins that can damage the cell.
About one in 60 ribosomes passes the stop codon, but it gets stuck, which interrupts the translation process. Since Amd1 has oncogenic properties, the artificial activation of the “molecular timer” will prevent an excess of protein and reduce the risk of developing malignant tumors.
