Processes involved in protein translation

Protein translation—the process of converting genetic information into protein chains—is one of the oldest biological processes on planet Earth. Because of its age, all organisms, after the last universal common ancestor, use the same basic components—such as the transfer RNA (tRNA); aminoacyl-tRNA synthases; and the ribosome and its various elongation, initiation, and release factors—to carry out the translation process. It is the latter group, ribosomes and associated proteins, that physically make the peptide chains. In the following thesis, we will explore the assembly and function of two components and their role in the protein synthesis. The thesis has been divided into several chapters describing (1-2) the assembly of the small subunit of the ribosome (SSU), and (3) free energy change and the mechanism of elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu). The function and evolutionary history of both components are intertwined as the SSU is responsible for decoding information encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA) and EF-Tu is responsible for delivering amino acid building blocks to the ribosome.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Lai, Jonathan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Luthey-Schulten, Zaida
• Gruebele, Martin
• Ha, Taejkip
• Kuhlman, Thomas

• Molecular dynamics
• Translation
• Proteins

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Jonathan Lai

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/98282

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/98282