Journal de cytologie et d'histologie

Ribosome Synthesis and Translational Ability in Comparison to Cell Growth

Abstract

Marianna Luongo*

Ribosome and protein synthesis are central to cell growth and major users of the cellular budget.In this paper, we discuss recent advances in the coupling of ribosome synthesis and translational capacity with bacterial cell growth.We discuss the various strategies used by bacteria to modulate protein synthesis rates at fast and slow growth rates.Bacterial cells,in particular,maintain translational potential at very slow growth as a strategy for maintaining fitness in changing environments.We also discuss the critical role of ribosome synthesis in rapidly proliferating eukaryotic cells like yeast and cancer cells.The close relationship between ribosomes and cell growth opens up a wide range of research opportunities for scientists from various disciplines.'The dream of every cell is to become two cells,' said Francois Jacob.Growth is a basic characteristic of many cell types, including bacterial cells,yeast cells,and cancer cells.Bacterial cells rarely encounter stable nutrient-rich conditions in their natural niche, instead frequently undergoing feast-and-famine cycles (see Glossary),and this process can be mimicked in the laboratory by varying the combinations of nutrient sources.Understanding how bacterial cells adapt to different environments, on the other hand, remains a major challenge in biology.