Commentary - (2023) Volume 12, Issue 1
The process of utilizing a gene's information to produce a protein inside a cell is known as gene expression. Gene expression is a fundamental process in molecular biology that refers to the transcription of genetic information from DNA into RNA and the subsequent translation of RNA into proteins. This process is tightly regulated and plays a critical role in many biological processes, including cell differentiation, development, and response to environmental stimuli. The central dogma of molecular biology, proposed by Francis Crick in 1958, describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein. DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) by RNA polymerase, which then undergoes translation by ribosomes to produce a specific protein. The process of translation requires the transfer of RNA (tRNA) molecules, which carry amino acids to the ribosome according to the codons on the mRNA.
Gene expression is a complex and dynamic process that involves the regulation of many steps, from the initiation of transcription to the post- translational modification of proteins. The regulation of gene expression occurs at many levels, including translational and post-translational regulation. Transcriptional regulation is the most crucial step in controlling gene expression because it determines which genes are expressed in a particular cell type or under specific conditions. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by the binding of transcription factors to specific DNA sequences in the promoter region of genes. These transcription factors can either activate or repress the transcription of target genes, depending on their interaction with other regulatory proteins and the chromatin structure. Chromatin is the complex of DNA and proteins that make up the chromosomes and can be condensed or decondensed to regulate gene expression. Post-transcriptional regulation involves the processing and maturation of mRNA molecules, including splicing, capping, and polyadenylation, which determine the stability, localization, and translational efficiency of the mRNA. In addition, small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), can bind to complementary sequences on the mRNA and inhibit translation or induce mRNA degradation.
Translational regulation can also occur through the binding of regulatory proteins to specific sequences on the mRNA, such as the 5' Untranslated Region (UTR) or the Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES). These regulatory proteins can either enhance or inhibit translation, depending on their interaction with the ribosome and other translation factors. These modifications can be catalyzed by specific enzymes in response to various signals, such as growth factors, hormones, or stress. The regulation of gene expression is crucial for the normal development and function of organisms, and its dysregulation can lead to many diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Cancer is characterized by the aberrant expression of genes that promote cell proliferation, survival, and migration, and the inhibition of genes that suppress these processes. Many oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are regulated at the transcriptional level by mutations, epigenetic alterations, or altered signaling pathways.
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, are characterized by the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, which can result from defects in protein folding, degradation, or clearance. These defects can be caused by mutations in genes that regulate these processes or by environmental factors that disrupt protein homeostasis. Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, are caused by the immune system's attack on the body.
Similar to human cells, eukaryotes require the processing of the mRNA before it can be read to produce proteins. A finely controlled process called gene expression enables a cell to react to its changing surroundings. It serves as both a volume control that raises or lowers the level of proteins produced as well as an on/off switch to regulate when proteins are created. Each amino acid has a unique tRNA molecule connected to it. After the tRNA has been bound, the bound amino acid is released, and the neighboring amino acids all combine to form a long chain known as a polypeptide.
Citation: Lopez F. Gene Expression: The Basics of Transcription and Translation. J Biol Todays World, 2023,12(1), 001.
Received: 04-Jan-2023, Manuscript No. JBTW-23-95790; Editor assigned: 09-Jan-2023, Pre QC No. JBTW-23-95790 (PQ); Reviewed: 23-Jan-2023, QC No. JBTW-23-95790; Revised: 30-Jan-2023, Manuscript No. JBTW-23-95790 (R); Published: 06-Feb-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2322-3308-12.1.008
Copyright: © 2023 Lopez F. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
