Errors in translational decoding: tRNA wobbling or misincorporation?

PLoS Genet. 2019 Mar 28;15(3):e1008017. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008017. eCollection 2019 Mar.

Abstract

As the central dogma of molecular biology, genetic information flows from DNA through transcription into RNA followed by translation of the message into protein by transfer RNAs (tRNAs). However, mRNA translation is not always perfect, and errors in the amino acid composition may occur. Mistranslation is generally well tolerated, but once it reaches superphysiological levels, it can give rise to a plethora of diseases. The key causes of mistranslation are errors in translational decoding of the codons in mRNA. Such errors mainly derive from tRNA misdecoding and misacylation, especially when certain codon-paired tRNA species are missing. Substantial progress has recently been made with respect to the mechanistic basis of erroneous mRNA decoding as well as the resulting consequences for physiology and pathology. Here, we aim to review this progress with emphasis on viral evolution and cancer development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Codon
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Genetic Code
  • Humans
  • Models, Genetic
  • Neoplasms / etiology
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Protein Biosynthesis / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics*
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism*
  • Ribosomes / genetics
  • Ribosomes / metabolism
  • Viruses / genetics
  • Viruses / metabolism

Substances

  • Codon
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Transfer

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFD0500800), China Agricultural Research System (CARS-42-17), Sichuan Veterinary Medicine and Drug Innovation Group of China Agricultural Research System (CARS-SVDIP) and Special Fund for Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province (2016JPT0004). QP is supported by the KWF (Dutch Cancer Society) Young Investigator (10140). XO is supported by the China Scholarship Council for Joint-Ph.D. fellowships (No. 201706910003). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.