The processes by which bacteria and eukaryotes synthesize proteins, while sharing core mechanisms, exhibit significant distinctions. These differences stem from variations in initiation, ribosome structure, mRNA characteristics, and the coupling of transcription and translation. The translation process in bacteria, for example, initiates with the formation of a complex involving the 30S ribosomal subunit, mRNA, initiator tRNA (fMet-tRNA), and initiation factors. This contrasts with eukaryotic translation, where the 40S ribosomal subunit, initiator tRNA (Met-tRNA), and multiple initiation factors bind to the 5′ cap of the mRNA.
Understanding the disparities in these fundamental processes has broad implications. It provides targets for the development of antibiotics that selectively inhibit bacterial protein synthesis without affecting eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, insights into the nuances of each system are crucial for biotechnology applications, such as the efficient production of recombinant proteins in either bacterial or eukaryotic expression systems. Historically, the identification of these differences has been instrumental in elucidating the evolutionary divergence between prokaryotic and eukaryotic life forms and in understanding the regulation of gene expression.
