MTRF1 Background Information MTRF1 (mitochondrial translational release factor 1), also known as RF1 or MRF1, is a 445 amino acid protein that localizes to the mitochondrion and belongs to the prokaryotic/mitochondrial release factor family of chain-terminating proteins. Functioning in a similar manner to related yeast and bacterial proteins, MTRF1 acts as a peptide chain release factor that directs translational termination, specifically in response to the stop codons AGG and AGA. The gene encoding MTRF1 maps to human chromosome 13, which houses over 400 genes, such as BRCA2 and RB1, and comprises nearly 4% of the human genome. Trisomy 13, also known as Patau syndrome, is deadly and the few who survive past one year suffer from permanent neurologic defects, difficulty eating and vulnerability to serious respiratory infections.
