The Drosophila melanogaster genome includes ∼300 genes encoding translation factors or proteins with well-characterized RNA binding motifs. Essentially all of the canonical eukaryotic translation factors were found among their predicted products. The four most numerous classes of RNA binding proteins are RNA recognition motif (RRM) proteins, DEAD/DExH-box helicases, KH domain proteins, and double-stranded RNA binding domain (DSRBD) proteins. Many of these correspond readily to yeast or mammalian orthologs, and can therefore be predicted to have specific functions in pre-mRNA and pre-rRNA processing, translation initiation, and nuclear export of RNA. The genes encoding cytosolic translation factors, and those encoding each class of RNA binding protein, are discussed in turn below.
Most genes encoding general translation factors that have been characterized in other species are present in the Drosophila melanogaster genome, and their products are similar to their mammalian counterparts (...
