A mechanistic overview of translation initiation in eukaryotes.
Translation initiation in eukaryotes is a complex and highly regulated process requiring the action of at least 12 protein factors. The pathway is distinguished by the formation of a pre-initiation complex that recruits the 5' end of the mRNA and scans along it to locate the start codon. During the past decade, a combination of genetics, biochemistry and structural studies has begun to illuminate key molecular events in this critical phase of gene expression. Here, we outline our current understanding of eukaryotic translation initiation and discuss important outstanding challenges.
Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. caitken@jhmi.edu
Colin Echeverría
CE
Aitken
Jon R
JR
Lorsch
D000818:Animals; D018387:Codon, Initiator / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D018387:Codon, Initiator; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger