Year: 2009
Type: review
Abstract: Oxygen in eukaryotic metabolism Oxygen consumption of tissues and processes Metabolic rate depression mRNA translation in hypoxia: the down and up and down Regulation of global mRNA translation in hypoxia Regulation of specific mRNA translation in hypoxia Can an alteration of the translational machinery cause a specific change in gene expression? Cells can survive hypoxia/anoxia by metabolic rate depression, which involves lowering of mRNA translation rates in an ATP‐dependent manner. By activating anaerobic ATP production (glycolysis), the inhibitory influence on mRNA translation in hypoxia can be abolished. In severe hypoxia, glycolysis cannot fully restore the ATP demand, thus causing a long‐lasting inhibition of global protein synthesis. During moderate hypoxia, fermentative ATP production may maintain normal ATP levels. However, an activation of hypoxia tolerance mechanisms, including specific mRNA translation, also takes place. The latter may be attributed to oxygen‐dependent (but not ATP dependent) processes such as the activation of the hypoxia‐inducible factor cascade. In summary, hypoxia‐induced decline in cellular ATP level can be counteracted by suppression of global mRNA translation rate. Sustained protein synthesis seems to be attributed to the activation of specific mRNA translation under long‐term hypoxic conditions.
Author: Michael Fähling
Institution: Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Award: G2635021787
OpenAlex ID: W2008844725