Translation Dynamics and Cell Specificity

Cell Specificity in Translation Transcription and translation are often thought to be coupled processes, with a rise in mRNA transcripts typically associated with an increase in translation. And while this is generally the case, specific cellular requirements often result in the decoupling of these processes, partially in order to bring about phenotypic change more rapidly […]

Unraveling Cancer Aetiology with Translatomics

Translation is a key process in a wide range of cancers, being significantly altered to drive its initiation and progression. Practically all oncogenic signalling pathways (including RAS–MAPK, PI3K–AKT–mTOR, MYC and WNT–ß-catenin) are implicated in translational reprogramming and many oncogenes (including KRAS, PTEN, APC, and EGFR) also regulate signalling pathways targeting translation.  It is a process […]

Complete Differential Gene Expression via Translatomics

Identifying what proteins are being expressed at a cellular level in response to a drug or as a consequence (or cause) of a pathological state is fundamental to our understanding of disease phenotypes and a logical starting point for the design of therapeutics for targeting them. However, researchers have often limited their analysis to the […]

Comprehensive Guide to Ribosome Profiling

1. Introduction Ribosome Profiling (Ribo-seq) is a deep-sequencing technique developed by Nicholas Ingolia and Jonathan Weissman that facilitates a genome-wide view of translation in vivo (1).  This technique is based on the principle that translating ribosomes cover a short stretch of mRNA (~30 nucleotides) that is resistant to RNase degradation (2) commonly referred to as the […]

Understanding Viral-Host Interactions with Translatomics

Translation within the context of viral-host interaction is a crucially important factor in determining the propagation of the invading pathogen. Due to their lack of cellular organelles, it is a requirement upon most viruses to hijack host machinery, in particular the translational apparatus such as the ribosomes. This feature of viral infection means ribosome profiling […]