Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, which help translate the genetic code into protein, also function in angiogenesis, fat metabolism, and more.

Criticism of the paper first surfaced in 1994, and its author was accused of scientific misconduct.

Only recently have scientists directly witnessed this most pivotal of events in biology, thanks to new technology that allows them to observe the process in living cells. It’s teaching them a lot.

New research suggests that the cells’ protein factories have preferences for specific messenger RNAs they translate. 

Feeding-fasting rhythms and light-dark cycles direct regular changes in organ and cell size, as well as ribosome number and protein levels.

Scientists discover transcripts from the same gene that can express both proteins and noncoding RNA.
 

Through similar mechanisms, amino acid depletion in culture and cytokine activity in the tumor microenvironment prompt cancer cells to metastasize.

The year’s most impressive achievements include methods to watch translation in cells, trace cell fates, avoid mitochondrial mutations, edit DNA, and build antibiotics from scratch.

Four independent research groups develop techniques for visualizing peptide production in living cells.