Reviews Of Physiology, Biochemistry And Pharmacology 155

Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology 155 Reviews of 155 Physiology Biochemistry and Pharmacology Editors S.G. Amara, Pittsburgh • E. Bamberg, Frankfurt S. Grinstein, Toronto • S.C. Hebert, New Haven R. Jahn, Göttingen • W.J. Lederer, Baltimore R. Lill, Marburg • A. Miyajima, Tokyo H. Murer, Zürich • S. Offermanns, Heidelberg G. Schultz, Berlin • M. Schweiger, Berlin With 23 figures, 13 in color 123 Library of Congress-Catalog-Card Number 74-3674 ISSN 030-4240 ISBN-10 3-540-28192-4 Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York ISBN-13 978-3-540-28192-4 Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Violations are liable for prosecution under the German Copyright Law. Springer is a part of Springer Science+Business Media springeronline.com c Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005 Printed in the Netherlands The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Product liability: The publisher cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information about dosage and application contained in this book. In every individual case the user must check such information by consulting the relevant literature. Editor: Simon Rallison, London Desk Editor: Anne Clauss, Heidelberg Production Editor: Patrick Waltemate, Leipzig Typesetting and Production: LE-TEX Jelonek, Schmidt & Vöckler GbR, Leipzig Cover: design & production, Heidelberg Printed on acid-free paper 14/3150YL – 5 4 3 2 1 0 Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol (2005) 155:1–30 DOI 10.1007/s10254-005-0039-7 S. Rospert · M. Rakwalska · Y. Dubaquié Polypeptide chain termination and stop codon readthrough on eukaryotic ribosomes Published online: 1 June 2005 © Springer-Verlag 2005 Abstract During protein translation, a variety of quality control checks ensure that the resulting polypeptides deviate minimally from their genetic encoding template. Translational fidelity is central in order to preserve the function and integrity of each cell. Correct termination is an important aspect of translational fidelity, and a multitude of mechanisms and players participate in this exquisitely regulated process. This review explores our current understanding of eukaryotic termination by highlighting the roles of the different ribosomal components as well as termination factors and ribosome-associated proteins, such as chaperones. Abbreviations aa-tRNA: Amino-acyl tRNA · eLF: Eukaryotic translation initiation factor · IF: Prokaryotic translation initiation factor · eEF: Eukaryotic translation elongation factor · EF: Prokaryotic translation elongation factor · eRF: Eukaryotic translation termination factor (release factor) · RF: Prokaryotic translation release factor · RRF: Ribosome recycling factor · Rps: Protein of the prokaryotic small ribosomal subunit · Rpl: Protein