The “omics” era has given a new perspective to the findings on the origin and evolution of the process of translation. This book provides insight into the evolution of the translation process and machinery from a modern perspective. Written by leading experts in molecular biology, this text looks into the origins and evolution of the protein synthetic machinery.

This volume contains the papers presented at the international symposium on "Molecular Mechanisms in Protein Synthesis" held on September 26-27, 1983 at the Beyaz Ko§k in Emirgan, Bosphorus, Istanbul. The symposium aimed to create a medium for information exchange and discussions regarding the current developments in the area of protein syn thesis. To ensure an informal yet scientifically stimulating and productive atmosphere providing opportunity for relaxed and speculative discussions, the number of presentations was limited to twenty and that of attendants to about sixty. The emphasis in the symposium was laid on structure-function relations in the prokaryotic protein synthesizing systems and on the control mechanisms of eukaryotic protein synthesis, in particular, during chain initia tion. Other issues like evolutionary aspects of protein synthesis, translational components genes and proofreading were covered as well. The manuscripts represent the extended accounts of the oral presenta tions, and it has been aimed with the concluding remarks at the end of the volume to give a summarizing view of the presentations and the discussions.

Translation Mechanisms provides investigators and graduate students with overviews of recent developments in the field of protein biosynthesis that are fuelled by the explosive and synergic growth of structural biology, genomics, and bioinformatics. The outstanding progress in our understanding of the structure, dynamics, and evolution of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation machinery, as well as applications in medicine and biotechnology, are described in 26 chapters covering recent discoveries on: -the subtleties of tRNA aminoacylation with natural and unnatural amino acids. -the control of mRNA stability, a key step of gene regulation. -ribosome structure and function, in the era of the atomic-crystal resolution of the ribosome. -the regulation of the biosynthesis of the translational machinery components. -the action of a variety of inhibitors of translation and the prospect for clinical studies.

Since the 1996 publication of Translational Control, there has been fresh interest in protein synthesis and recognition of the key role of translation control mechanisms in regulating gene expression. This new monograph updates and expands the scope of the earlier book but it also takes a fresh look at the field. In a new format, the first eight chapters provide broad overviews, while each of the additional twenty-eight has a focus on a research topic of more specific interest. The result is a thoroughly up-to-date account of initiation, elongation, and termination of translation, control mechanisms in development in response to extracellular stimuli, and the effects on the translation machinery of virus infection and disease. This book is essential reading for students entering the field and an invaluable resource for investigators of gene expression and its control.