Optimization of Codon translation rates via tRNA modifications maintains proteome integrity

Session 3 of the 14^th CRG Sympossium features, among others,  Danny NEDIALKOVA from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Max Planck Research Group for RNA Biology, from Münster DE, presenting a short talk about how optimization of codon translation rates via tRNA modifications maintains proteome integrity.  

- Codon translation speed can impact protein folding and tRNA modifications stabilize codon-anticodon pairing

- U34 (wobble modified codon) modifications are required for fitness. They studied how modified U34 enhances codon translation rates in vivo:

• Elevated tRNA levels restores cellular fitness.

• U34 modifications promote efficient decoding in yeast and maintain protein homeostasis, while loss of them triggers proteotoxic stress and elicits proteins aggregation

• Metastable proteins aggregate in cells with unmodified U34 while elevated tRNA levels restore protein homeostasis

• U34 modifications  promote efficient decoding in metazoans while U34 modification loss impairs proteostasis in metazoans, and triggers protein homeostasis failure