ETH findings change knowledge about protein synthesis

(CONNECT) Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich have been studying the protein complex nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) for some time now. This was discovered 30 years ago, but its functions were still largely unclear, according to an ETH press release. Researchers led by biologist Nenad Ban have now discovered that NAC coordinates the functions of proteins.

Amino acids are linked together in the ribosomes. The resulting growing peptide chain later folds into a functional protein. For this folding to take place, it must be in the right place in the cell. This activity is coordinated by the NAC at the point where the polypeptide chains emerge from the ribosome. To do this, NAC brings two enzymes to the ribosome, which free the amino acids from histones. These are proteins that are produced when cells are preparing to divide. The end of an amino acid that has been freed from histones and thus exposed is then chemically modified with an acetyl group. "NAC ensures that the right enzyme is in the right place at exactly the right time," says Denis Yudin, PhD student at Nenad Ban.

"The new findings are changing our view of protein synthesis," explains Ban. "They show how coordinated and dynamic the processes on the ribosome are and how a small complex at the end of the tunnel sets the pace for the production of a large proportion of the proteins in our cells." In addition, the chemical modification of the proteins under investigation during their synthesis is important for the function of the chromosomes. Errors can contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer. In this respect, the new findings could also enable new approaches in cancer treatment. ce/jh