title: A possible novel interaction between the 3'-end of 18 S ribosomal RNA and the 5'-leader sequence of many eukaryotic messenger RNAs.
abstract: A novel interaction between the 5'-untranslated region of eukaryotic messenger RNAs and non-contiguous sequences in the 18 S ribosomal RNA is proposed. The small ribosomal RNA contains, at its 3'-terminus, a heavily conserved hairpin structure. It is suggested that mRNA 5'-leader sequence stabilises this structure by interacting with other conserved nucleotides which flank it. Sequences closely related to the required sequence (A-U-C-C-A-C-C) occur quite commonly in eukaryotic mRNAs and are often found immediately upstream from the AUG-codon. This interaction may have a role in the events which lead up to the initiation of protein synthesis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000378:metabolism*; D014337:Trout
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal