Synonyms
Definition
Internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) are specialized mRNA elements that allow recruitment of eukaryotic ribosomes to naturally uncapped mRNAs or to capped mRNAs under conditions in which cap-dependent translation is inhibited. Most IRESs obviate the need of the eukaryotic pre-initiation ribosomal complexes (PICs) for scanning the 5′ Untranslated Region (UTR) of mRNA for the AUG start codon as they directly place the initiating codon in the ribosomal P-site. IRESs are utilized mostly by various invading viruses, although several putative cellular IRESs have been also reported and proposed to play important roles in stress responses, development, apoptosis, cell cycle control, and neuronal function.
Characteristics
Translation initiation is a complex process in which initiator Met-tRNA Meti , 40S, and 60S ribosomal subunits are assembled by eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) into an 80S ribosome at the initiation codon of mRNA. The cap-binding complex eIF4F...
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References
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Valášek, L.S. (2013). Internal Ribosome Entry Site, Eukaryotic. In: Dubitzky, W., Wolkenhauer, O., Cho, KH., Yokota, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Systems Biology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9863-7_824
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9863-7_824
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