Molecular Pathogenesis: Viral Protein Synthesis

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to protein synthesis and viral translation mechanisms, integrating definitions and concepts essential for understanding molecular pathogenesis.

Eukaryotic mRNA

Monocistronic, containing a single open reading frame that encodes a single protein.

Cap-dependent translation

Mechanism of translation initiation where the mRNA cap structure is recognized by eIF-4E.

Initiation factors

Proteins that assist in the assembly of the translation machinery, crucial for the initiation of translation.

Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES)

A structured region in viral mRNA that allows for cap-independent translation initiation.

Ternary complex

A complex formed during translation initiation that consists of methionyl-tRNA, eIF-2, and GTP.

Ribosomal frameshifting

A process where the ribosome shifts reading frames during translation, allowing production of different proteins.

Polycistronic mRNA

mRNA that can encode multiple proteins, typically found in prokaryotes.

Translation termination codons

Nonsense codons (UAA, UGA, UAG) that signal the end of protein synthesis.

Peptidyl transferase activity

Catalytic activity of rRNA in the ribosome that forms peptide bonds between amino acids.

Virus-induced kinases

Proteins that phosphorylate eIF-2α as part of the cellular antiviral response.

Leaky scanning

A mechanism by which ribosomes bypass suboptimal AUG start codons to initiate translation at downstream AUGs.

eIF-4E

Eukaryotic initiation factor that binds to the 5' cap of mRNA to facilitate translation initiation.

GTP hydrolysis

Energy-releasing reaction necessary for various stages of translation, especially in initiation and elongation.

Polyprotein synthesis

A viral strategy where multiple proteins are produced from a single open reading frame that is processed into individual proteins.

Stress granules

Protein-RNA complexes that sequester translational machinery; their formation can be influenced by viral infection.

Translation initiation complex

The assembly of the ribosomal subunits, mRNA, and initiator tRNA required to start protein synthesis.