This comprehensive and highly illustrated book provides a basic and up-to-date summary of translation on bacterial ribosomes, with emphasis on the structural insights. It is an attempt to present the ribosome and its functional activities in a coherent manner. Two types of illustrations are used to describe the translation field: simplified black-and-white illustrations to depict aspects of translation and color plates to give correct structural representations.The book presents essentially all aspects of the translation system, focusing on the relation between structure and function. Upper level undergraduates and graduate students with an interest in protein synthesis will find this lecture notes volume invaluable. The book is also an essential source of information for researchers who want to get an overview of translation.Contents: The Basics of TranslationHistorical MilestonesMethods to Study StructureThe Message — mRNAThe Adaptor — tRNAThe Workbench — RibosomesThe Structure of the RibosomeRibosomal Sites and Ribosomal StatesThe Catalysts — Translation FactorsInhibitors of Protein Synthesis, Antibiotics, ResistanceThe Process — TranslationProtein Folding and TargetingEvolution of the Translation ApparatusReadership: Upper level undergraduates and graduate students with an interest in protein synthesis; researchers in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and biophysics wanting to get an overview of translation.