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mRNA Localization and Localized Translation

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Molecular Life Sciences

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Synonyms

Localized translation; RNA localization

Definition

Some mRNAs are translated in specific locations of the cell. Localized translation is an efficient way to localize a particular protein. Often localized translation depends on the mRNA itself being localized to a particular place. mRNAs to be localized contain cis-elements that recruit “zip code” proteins that help localize the mRNA. During localization, the mRNA also recruits proteins that repress its translation, so that it cannot be translated until it reaches its destination.

Discussion

There are a growing number of examples of mRNAs that are localized to a particular place within a cell and only translated once localized. mRNA localization (and subsequent localized translation) has several possible advantages (as reviewed in Martin and Ephrussi 2009). First, mRNA localization is an efficient method to localize protein. Rather than localizing each protein, only a few mRNAs are localized, each of which can generate many...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Richmond, 28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA, 23173, USA

    Angela Hilliker

Authors
  1. Angela Hilliker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angela Hilliker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Chemistry, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Ellis Bell

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Hilliker, A. (2014). mRNA Localization and Localized Translation. In: Bell, E. (eds) Molecular Life Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6436-5_765-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6436-5_765-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6436-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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