Dependence of translation on 5'-terminal methylation of mRNA.
Many eukaryotic cell and viral mRNAs contain 5'-terminal m7G(5')ppp(5')N. Methylation is important for the in vitro translation of vesicular stomatitis virus and reovirus mRNAs. Unmethylated viral mRNAs are methylated by cell-free extrascts of wheat germ and L cells to form 5'-terminal structures of the type, m7GpppN and m7GpppNm, respectively. Rabbit globin mRNA also contains 5'-terminal 7-methylguanosine (m7G). Removal of the m7G by beta-elimination decreases translation. The efficient binding of mRNA to ribosomes is dependent on the presence of 5'-terminal m7G.
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006150:Guanine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D011132:Polyribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D006150:Guanine Nucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D005914:Globins