The precise execution of biological processes depends on various different macromolecules, such as proteins, working together in a coordinated manner. The idea is that the mRNA level of essential genes encoding proteins in the same complex or pathway would be more correlated than transcripts of functionally unrelated genes. It turns out that this holds true for induced genes but not for transcripts of constitutive genes encoding essential subunits of multi-protein complexes. These transcripts are not correlated any more than functionally unrelated genes. The coordination of these functional complexes must occur post-transcriptionally, and likely post-translationally.
- Saumil J Gandhi
- Daniel Zenklusen
- Robert H Singer
