Translational Control across Eukaryotes

Greco Hernández

doi:10.1155/2012/317690

Abstract

Diversity is one of the most significant features of life. The current assessment of biodiversity on Earth reaches several millions of living species, and an unimaginable number of species that have gone extinct. Further more, diversity is ingrained in all aspects of life, namely, genetics, metabolic needs, cell complexity, body plans and organismal morphology, developmental programs, behavioral patterns, and the occupancy of ecological niches. A deep understanding of all levels of organismal diversity is necessary to obtain a profound understanding of life. For this reason, the main goal of this special issue on translational control across eukaryotes is to acknowledge and discuss recent research showing that molecular and functional diversification also exists in the translation apparatus of eukaryotes. “Translation,” that is, the process of decoding a messenger RNA to synthesize a protein by the ribosome, is a fundamental process for all forms of life.

Highlights

The basic components and the global process of translation in eukaryotes have been largely established upon the study of traditional, so-called model organisms
The main goal of this special issue on translational control across eukaryotes is to acknowledge and discuss recent research showing that molecular and functional diversification exists in the translation apparatus of eukaryotes
The use of modern whole-genome sequencing and high-throughput technologies to study many nonmodel eukaryotes from disparate taxa has shown that the gene diversity in nature is far more expansive than we have ever imagined. These studies have uncovered a surprising diversity in the configuration of the translation apparatus across eukaryotes

Summary

Introduction

The main goal of this special issue on translational control across eukaryotes is to acknowledge and discuss recent research showing that molecular and functional diversification exists in the translation apparatus of eukaryotes. The basic components and the global process of translation in eukaryotes have been largely established upon the study of traditional, so-called model organisms. These studies have uncovered a surprising diversity in the configuration of the translation apparatus across eukaryotes.

Results

Conclusion