COTRANSLATIONAL TRANSPORT Meaning and
Definition
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Cotranslational transport refers to a cellular process where proteins are transported across a cellular membrane simultaneously as they are being synthesized by ribosomes. It is an essential mechanism for ensuring proper protein targeting and localization within the cell.
During cotranslational transport, the ribosomes translating specific mRNA molecules, known as signal recognition particles (SRP), recognize and bind to a specific sequence of amino acids called a signal peptide found in the nascent protein. This binding between the SRP and the signal peptide temporarily pauses translation, allowing the ribosome-mRNA complex to be targeted towards the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane.
Once the ribosome-SRP complex reaches the ER membrane, it binds to the SRP receptor. This binding triggers the continuation of protein synthesis, resulting in the translocation of the growing polypeptide chain across the ER membrane. The protein is then released into the ER lumen, where it undergoes folding, post-translational modification, and sorting to reach its final destination within the cell.
Cotranslational transport is vital for proteins that are destined to be secreted from the cell or embedded within cell membranes. It ensures the efficient and accurate delivery of the protein to the appropriate cellular compartment, which is crucial for maintaining proper cellular function. Disruptions or defects in cotranslational transport can lead to protein mislocalization, aggregation, and dysfunction, which can contribute to various diseases and disorders.
Common Misspellings for COTRANSLATIONAL TRANSPORT
- xotranslational transport
- votranslational transport
- fotranslational transport
- dotranslational transport
- citranslational transport
- cktranslational transport
- cltranslational transport
- cptranslational transport
- c0translational transport
- c9translational transport
- corranslational transport
- cofranslational transport
- cogranslational transport
- coyranslational transport
- co6ranslational transport
- co5ranslational transport
- coteanslational transport
- cotdanslational transport
- cotfanslational transport
- cottanslational transport
Etymology of COTRANSLATIONAL TRANSPORT
The word "cotranslational transport" is a compound word that combines two concepts: "co-" and "translational transport".
1. "Co-" is a prefix that comes from the Latin word "cum", meaning "together". In English, it usually indicates joint action, partnership, or simultaneity. In this context, "co-" suggests that something is happening simultaneously or in conjunction with something else.
2. "Translational transport" refers to the process of moving molecules or macromolecules across a membrane during protein synthesis. It combines the terms "translation" and "transport".
- "Translation" refers to the process of converting the genetic information encoded in mRNA (messenger RNA) into the sequence of amino acids during protein synthesis. It occurs on ribosomes and involves the decoding of the mRNA by transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules.
