Protein Synthesis and Translational Control: A Historical Perspective
- 1Department of Biochemistry and Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
- 2Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, School of Medicine, Davis, California 95616
- 3Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103
- Correspondence: mathews{at}njms.rutgers.edu
Abstract
Protein synthesis and its regulation are central to all known forms of life and impinge on biological arenas as varied as agriculture, biotechnology, and medicine. Otherwise known as translation and translational control, these processes have been investigated with increasing intensity since the middle of the 20th century, and in increasing depth with advances in molecular and cell biology. We review the origins of the field, focusing on the underlying concepts and early studies of the cellular machinery and mechanisms involved. We highlight key discoveries and events on a timeline, consider areas where current research has engendered new ideas, and conclude with some speculation on future directions for the field.
