Role of Elongation Factor 1 in the Translational Control of Rodent Brain Protein Synthesis

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Abstract
The translational control of protein synthesis during early postnatal neural development and aging was examined in the mouse and the rat. The activity of brain elongation factor 1 (bEF-1) decreased exponentially with age and declined parallel to the age-dependent decrease in total protein synthesis in both rodents. This decrement in bEF-1 activity fell within the range of reported age-related decreases in protein synthesis in in vitro systems. The factor was present in multiple forms; the lighter species predominated in older animals, whereas the young light form apparently disappeared with increasing age, and was replaced by others arising from the heavy form. Elongation factor 1 derived from young brains functioned as a rate-limiting component in polypeptide synthesis in previously saturated adult systems. The data suggest that bEF-1 has an important modulatory effect on total brain protein synthesis.