Conservation of Translation Initiation Between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

While the fundamental goals of translation initiation are the same for all cells, it is the most phylogenetically diverse step within translation. Until recently, there has been no evidence of a molecular mechanism that can initiate translation in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Colussi et al. (2015) reported that the eukaryotic PSIV IGR IRES can initiate prokaryotic translation and effectively circumvent domain-specific divergences. This novel discovery led us to investigate whether this IRES is unique in its ability to initiate prokaryotic translation and attempt to elucidate any distinguishing characteristics that allow for its mechanism of action to occur. Our results indicate that this IRES is unique in its ability to initiate prokaryotic translation. It also appears that the structural integrity of this IRES is less critical in prokaryotes than eukaryotes, and complementary interactions between Domain III and the 16S rRNA may contribute to this IRES' mechanism of action.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Grantor dc:publisher

Carleton University

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Puchacz, Nathalie Martha

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2019 the author(s). Theses may be used for non-commercial research, educational, or related academic purposes only. Such uses include personal study, research, scholarship, and teaching. Theses may only be shared by linking to Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be used without proper attribution to the author. No part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

10.22215/etd/2019-13701

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:carleton.scholaris.ca:20.500.14718/40407