Polysome, polyribosome

Probes may also consist of DNA copied from mRNA. This is known as cDNA and is also widely used to determine indirectly the sequences of mRNA molecules. Messenger RNA may be isolated from the total cellular RNA by affinity chromatography on bound poly (dT) or poly (U). These materials selectively hold RNA with the poly (A) tails characteristic of most eukaryotic mRNA (see Chapter 28). Another source of mRNA is polyribosomes (polysomes), which are "reading" mRNA and actively making proteins. 

Polyribosome (polysome). A complex of an mRNA and two or more ribosomes actively engaged in protein synthesis. 

Polyribosomes, polysomes the structural unit of Protein biosynthesis (see), consisting of several to many Ribosomes (see) attached along the length of a strand of mRNA. P. occur free or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. The individual ribosomes are separated by 60-90 nucleotide units of the mRNA, i.e. the distance between them is 20-30 nm. Each ribosome covers about 35 nucleotide residues. Length of the P. is approximately proportional to the size of the synthesized polypeptide. P are formed by association of mRNA with ribosomal subunits (produced at the termination of translation) under the influence of initiation factor IF 3, or by direct association of mRNA with newly formed ribosomes. 

Many ribosomes can translate the same mRNA molecule simultaneously. Because of their relatively large size, the ribosome particles cannot attach to an mRNA any closer than 35 nucleotides apart. Multiple ribosomes on the same mRNA molecule form a polyribosome, or polysome. In an unrestricted system, the number of ribosomes attached to an mRNA (and thus the size of polyribosomes) correlates positively with the length of the mRNA molecule. The mass of the mRNA molecule is, of course, quite small compared with the mass of even a single ribosome. 

Figure 10.1 Experimental schemes for microarray analysis. All experimental schemes start with a separation step of the cell lysate by velocity sedimentation in a sucrose gradient (top scheme). Collection of the desired fractions is assisted by a continuous ultraviolet (UV) reading of the gradient (an example of such UV reading is shown in each section). This allows determination of the sedimentation position of the 40S, 60S, 80S, and polyribosomal complexes (2,3, and more).Three general ways for fraction collection and analysis are presented (sections A, B, and C) (A) Collection of two fractions (free and polysomes) and direct comparison between them, with the free mRNA fraction labeled with green dye and the polysome fraction labeled with red dye. (B) Collection of two fractions and indirect comparison between them by utilizing an unfractionated reference RNA. (C) Collection of multiple fractions (four in this case), where each fraction is compared to an unfractionated reference sample. The blue arrows indicate the addition of spike-in RNA to each fraction and to the reference RNA.

Protein synthesis can be carried out by ribosomes free in the cytosol. In eukaryotes, ribosomes also carry out protein synthesis while bound to the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, a given mRNA molecule usually has more than one active ribosome translating it into protein an assembly of several ribosomes on a single mRNA is called a polyribosome, or polysome for short. 

Translation begins at the 5 -end of the mRNA, with the ribosome proceeding along the RNA molecule. Because of the length of most mRNAs, more than one ribosome at a time can generally translate a message (Figure 31.14). Such a complex of one mRNA and a number of ribosomes is called a polysome or polyribosome. 

Polyribosomes. Under suitable conditions ribosomes isolated from cells are found to sediment together in clusters, often of five or more. These polyribosomes (or polysomes), which can be seen in electron micrographs (Fig. 28-5), are held together by chains of mRNA. Polyribosomes arise because a single mRNA molecule is being translated by several ribosomes at once. As the 5 terminus of the mRNA emerges from one ribosome, it may soon combine with another and initiate translation of a second peptide chain, etc. The length of the mRNA determines how many ribosomes are likely to be associated in a polyribosome. 

Several reports of the effects of ozone in vivo are presented in Table XII. It is impossible to decide whether the effects of ozone are primary reactions or the result of a series of reactions initiated by ozone. All results can be rationalized as enzyme inhibition of one sort or another. Effects on membrane structure are harder to observe, and in one case it was reported that the malonaldehyde which would be expected on fatty acid ozonolysis was only observed after symptoms were apparent (74). Results of electron microscope examination showed that the first observable damage was in the stroma of the chloroplasts (70). One can easily argue that earlier damage could not be detected by microscopic techniques. However, recent reports that the chloroplast polyribosomes are much more susceptible to degradation by ozone are important observations which are consistent with the microscopy experiments (76). Chloroplast polysomes are also more susceptible to sulfhydryl reagents than are cytoplasmic polysomes (77). This evidence indicates that ozone itself, or a toxic product from primary oxidation, can pass through the cytoplasm and have its effect in the chloroplast. 

In addition, several ribosomes can independently and simultaneously translate a mRNA molecule and, hence, synthesize several identical polypeptide chains concurrently (Figure 12.3). Such clusters or groups of ribosomes are called polyribosomes or polysomes. The number of attached ribosomes depends on the size of the mRNA and how frequently ribosomes can initiate at the start of a gene sequence. Because RNA transcription and translation are neither temporally nor spatially separated in prokaryotes, it is possible for translation to begin before transcription is completed. However, we have already noted that prokaryotic mRNAs have short half-lives this is probably a result of their continuous degra-... 

Yes. It is common for any single mRNA to be translated simultaneously by many ribosomes. They give rise to a structure called a polyribosome or polysome. 

The linear deoxyribonucleotide sequence information encoded in genes is copied into a linear sequence of ribonncleotides in messenger RNA (mRNA) by the process of transcription. Ribosomes bind one at a time near to the 5 end of each mRNA molecule and translate the ribonucleotide base sequence into an aminoacyl sequence according to the genetic code. Each mRNA is bound to more than one ribosome at a time, forming a polyribosome, often abbreviated to polysome. Typically the rate of... 

From the above discussion, it appears that zinc may have its primary effect on zinc-dependent enzymes that regulate the biosynthesis and catabolic rate of RNA and DNA. In addition, zinc may also play a role in the maintenance of polynucleotide conformation. Sandstead et al. (99) observed abnormal polysome profiles in the liver of zinc-deficient rats and mice. Acute administration of zinc appeared to stimulate polysome formation both in vivo and in vitro. This finding is supported by the data of Femandez-Madrid, Prasad, and Oberleas (42), who noted a decrease in the polyribosome content of zinc-deficient connective tissue from rats and a concomitant increase in inactive monosomes. 

Protein synthesis involves the simultaneous action of many ribosomes on a single mRNA molecule. These complexes of many ribosomes along a single mRNA are known as polyribosomes or polysomes (Figure 24.17b). Each ribosome is synthesizing one copy of the protein molecule encoded by the mRNA. Thus many copies of a protein are simultaneously produced. 

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