Translon: a single term for translated regions.
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Letter↗
Biomedical subjects
Maria P Rubtsova
Publications and source records attributed to Maria P Rubtsova.
Distinctive properties of the 5'-untranslated region of human hsp70 mRNA.
A relaxed cap-dependence of translation of the mRNA-encoding mammalian heat shock protein Hsp70 may suggest that its 5'-untranslated region (UTR) possesses an internal ribosome entry site (IRES). In this study, this possibility has been tested in transfected cells using plasmids that express dicistronic mRNAs. Using a reporter gene construct, Renilla luciferase/Photinus pyralis luciferase, we show that the 216-nt long 5'-UTR of Hsp70 mRNA acts as an IRES that directs ribosomes to the downstream start codon by a cap-independent mechanism. The relative activity of this IRES (100-fold over the empty vector) is similar to that of the classical picornaviral IRESs. Additional controls indicate that this high expression of the downstream reporter is not due to readthrough from the upstream cistron, nor is it due to translation of cryptic monocistronic transcripts. The effect of small deletions within the 5'-UTR of Hsp70 mRNA on the IRES activity varies in dependence on their position within the 5'-UTR sequence. With the exception of deletion of nt 33-50, it is small for the 5'-terminal half of the 5'-UTR and rather strong for the 3'-terminal section. However, neither of these small deletions abolishes the IRES activity completely. Excision of larger sections (>50 nt) by truncation of the 5'-UTR from the 5'-end or by internal deleting results in a dramatic impairment of the IRES function. Taken together, these data suggest that the IRES activity of the 5'-UTR of Hsp70 mRNA requires integrity of almost the entire sequence of the 5'-UTR. The data are discussed in terms of a model that allows a three-dimensional rather than linear mode of selection of the initiation region surrounding the start codon of Hsp70 mRNA.
5' Untranslated Regions↗
Conversion of 48S translation preinitiation complexes into 80S initiation complexes as revealed by toeprinting.
A method of analysis of translation initiation complexes by toeprinting has recently acquired a wide application to investigate molecular mechanisms of translation initiation in eukaryotes. So far, this very fruitful approach was used when researchers did not aim to discriminate between patterns of toeprints for 48S and 80S translation initiation complexes. Here, using cap-dependent and internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-dependent mRNAs, we show that the toeprint patterns for 48S and 80S complexes are distinct whether the complexes are assembled in rabbit reticulocyte lysate or from fully purified individual components. This observation allowed us to demonstrate for the first time a delay in the conversion of the 48S complex into the 80S complex for beta-globin and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) RNAs, and to assess the potential of some 80S antibiotics to block polypeptide elongation. Besides, additional selection of the authentic initiation codon among three consecutive AUGs that follow the EMCV IRES was revealed at steps subsequent to the location of the initiation codon by the 40S ribosomal subunit.
Animals↗