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Nature 443, 41-42 (7 September 2006) | doi:10.1038/nature05002; Published online 13 August 2006

Molecular biology: Sticky end in protein synthesis

Hervé Roy1 & Michael Ibba1

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It's not clear what general level of accuracy is required in translating the genetic code. But the protective role of proof-reading is evident from a case in which a small mistake has a catastrophic effect.

When protein production in a cell goes awry, abnormal deposits can form and contribute to various diseases known collectively as amyloidoses1. The tendency of certain proteins to aggregate can be increased by mutations in the genes that encode them, as in Huntington's or Alzheimer's diseases.

  1. Hervé Roy and Michael Ibba are in the Department of Microbiology and the Ohio State Biochemistry Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1292, USA.

Correspondence to: Michael Ibba1 Email: ibba.1@osu.edu

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