How cells master the art of reading life’s recipes<»

A research project led by The Australian National University (ANU) has closed an important gap in the understanding of a fundamental process of life - the creation of proteins based on recipes called RNA. RNAs are short-lived copies of genetic information stored in DNA. They are read by cellular ribosomes, which translate the recipes into proteins to become the main building blocks of life. Lead researcher Professor Thomas Preiss from The John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) at ANU, said the new understanding would open up avenues for treatment of a wide range of diseases including cancer, heart disease and a spectrum of rarer genetic diseases. "We've captured a key process of life in action for the first time," Professor Preiss said. "This process of translation initiation has puzzled scientists globally for around 40 years." The research team took snapshots of how ribosomes distribute along the RNA strings, paying particular attention to how ribosomes make sure they read the recipe from the correct starting point. Cells throughout the body contain the same complete blueprint for life in their DNA.