Introduction: Difference between revisions

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Gene expression is highly regulated by complex protein translation systems. Expression within the eukaryotic cell is especially complicated, involving the mature mRNA, the ribosomal subunits and other protein factors. Furthermore, each component has to interact in a specific function i.e. the small ribosomal subunit has to recognise a start codon, and the large ribosomal subunit has to be recruited before translation can be initiated (Wagner et al.YEAR). One such protein is the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G), which participates in the recruiting of the small 40S ribosomal subunit and in scanning along the 5' UTR of the mRNA to the translation start codon. Other regulatory proteins which interact in tandem with the eIF4G include the 5'-cap-binding protein eIF4E and RNA helicase eIF4A.  
Computational biology is an emerging field in the study of genomics. It allows researchers to gain a deep understanding of biological products without the need for extensive lab work. It is a power tool as it saves researchers both time and money and allows a more integrative approach to the study of genomics.


An MIF4G-like protein from the zebrafish was studied for its functional, structural and evolutionary properties. Preliminary information provided by the crystal structure of the protein revealed it to be similar to the middle domain of the eIF4G protein, hence described as "MIF4G-like protein". Subsequent research into the MIF4G protein is presented in this report.  
Proteins are the final derived state from the central dogma and they are the functional expression of an organisms DNA code. Proteins themselves perform many diverse and often complex functions within the organism that produces them, and knowing what these individual proteins do contributes our understanding of disease states and what can be done to prevent and control them. The knowledge of protein structure function and the evolutionary lineage are all important components when determining what role a protein ultimately plays in an organism and what potential can go wrong.


 
The advancements provided by bioinformatics has contributed greatly to researches ability to isolate and determine important proteins that have both negative and positive effects on biological systems. These tools have also made it easer to process hypothetical or unknown proteins that would otherwise not be looked at because of there lack of immediate significance and the money that it would cost to work on a protein that may prove to be unimportant to further research.
 
 
I think we should have some information here about the eIF domain. Ie that is consists of x number of domains of which MIF4G is the middle domain. etc. Maybe some information on what this does (although we mostly have that anyway). I will do something on this and add it. if thats ok with everyone - if not let me know. :)




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Revision as of 15:40, 10 June 2007

Computational biology is an emerging field in the study of genomics. It allows researchers to gain a deep understanding of biological products without the need for extensive lab work. It is a power tool as it saves researchers both time and money and allows a more integrative approach to the study of genomics.

Proteins are the final derived state from the central dogma and they are the functional expression of an organisms DNA code. Proteins themselves perform many diverse and often complex functions within the organism that produces them, and knowing what these individual proteins do contributes our understanding of disease states and what can be done to prevent and control them. The knowledge of protein structure function and the evolutionary lineage are all important components when determining what role a protein ultimately plays in an organism and what potential can go wrong.

The advancements provided by bioinformatics has contributed greatly to researches ability to isolate and determine important proteins that have both negative and positive effects on biological systems. These tools have also made it easer to process hypothetical or unknown proteins that would otherwise not be looked at because of there lack of immediate significance and the money that it would cost to work on a protein that may prove to be unimportant to further research.


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