Platelet Protein Synthesis and Translational Control

Title: Platelet Protein Synthesis and Translational Control

Volume: 8 Issue: 3

Author(s): Robert A. Campbell, Neal D. Tolley, Hansjorg Schwertz and Andrew S. Weyrich

Affiliation:

Keywords: mRNA, platelets, protein synthesis, ribosomes, splicing, translation, synthetic pathways, megakaryocytes, thrombopoiesis, mechanisms, Leukocytes, glycoprotein

Abstract: Human platelets are released from the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes and average 2-3 μm in diameter. In response to vascular injury, platelets stick together like glue, seal the wounded area, and dispense their contents into the nearby milieu. Taken at face value, these features and functions seem simplistic and unrefined. As one digs deeper, however, it becomes apparent that platelets are intricately wired and created for multifunctional purposes. One of their duties, which cropped up over the last decade, is to synthesize proteins both continually and on demand. It turns out that platelets possess thousands of template mRNAs, ribosomes, and requisite translational machinery that they use to generate new proteins. Platelets also retain tools that grant them the ability to process precursor mRNAs and microRNAs. In this review, we briefly describe what we currently know about protein synthesis in platelets, its functional significance, and where the field is likely to take us over the next decade.

Cite this article as:

A. Campbell Robert, D. Tolley Neal, Schwertz Hansjorg and S. Weyrich Andrew, Platelet Protein Synthesis and Translational Control, Current Proteomics 2011; 8 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016411797247521