Translation Controlled mRNAs: New Drug Targets in Infectious Diseases?

Abstract

Recent data from a series of laboratories has pinpointed the relevant role of translation control on the regulation of gene expression. In particular, an analysis of T cell activation has led to demonstrate that during this physiological transition about 20% of the regulated mRNAs are controlled at the translation level. Furthermore, modulating the host mRNA translation is one of the mechanisms used by infectious agents to achieve a productive infection. In the present review, we summarize the current knowledge on the translation machinery, the translational control mechanisms during the immune response, as well as the mechanisms used by different pathogens to avoid, inhibit or postpone the host response; and suggest that the analysis on genome-wide screening of the host-pathogen interactions, identifying translationally regulated mRNAs, might unravel new drug targets in infectious diseases.

Identification of Novel Translation Related Genes in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

“…Despite extensive research in translation, it is still not fully elucidated in terms of control. Translational control was dened by (Diaz-Guerra et al, 2008) and tumor control when T cells are activated in humans (Mikulits et al, 2000).…”