Simon S. Eaglestone

Translation termination efficiency can be regulated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by environmental stress through a prion-mediated mechanism

[PSI+] is a protein‐based heritable phenotype of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which reflects the prion‐like behaviour of the endogenous Sup35p protein release factor. [PSI+] strains exhibit a marked decrease in translation termination efficiency, which permits decoding of translation termination signals and, presumably, the production of abnormally extended polypeptides. We have examined whether the [PSI+]‐induced expression of such an altered proteome might confer some selective growth advantage over [psi−] strains. Although otherwise isogenic [PSI+] and [psi−] strains show no difference in growth rates under normal laboratory conditions, we demonstrate that [PSI+] strains do exhibit enhanced tolerance to heat and chemical stress, compared with [psi−] strains. Moreover, we also show that the prion‐like determinant [PSI+] is able to regulate translation termination efficiency in response to environmental stress, since growth in the presence of ethanol results in a transient increase in the efficiency of translation termination and a loss of the [PSI+] phenotype. We present a model to describe the prion‐mediated regulation of translation termination efficiency and discuss its implications in relation to the potential physiological role of prions in S.cerevisiae and other fungi.

Mortality from trauma haemorrhage and opportunities for improvement in transfusion practice

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, patterns of blood use and outcomes of major haemorrhage in trauma.

Combined effect of therapeutic strategies for bleeding injury on early survival, transfusion needs and correction of coagulopathy.

The combined effects of balanced transfusion ratios and use of procoagulant and antifibrinolytic therapies on trauma‐induced exsanguination are not known. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of transfusion ratios, tranexamic acid and products containing fibrinogen on the outcome of injured patients with bleeding.