PubMed · 1458029
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
1992. Prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0959-437x(05)80145-5
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Although recent biochemical and genetic investigations have produced some insights into the mechanism of initiation of translation in eukaryotic cells, two aspects of the initiation process remain controversial. One unsettled issue concerns a variety of functions that have been proposed for mRNA binding proteins, including some initiation factors. The need to distinguish between specific and nonspecific binding of proteins to mRNA is discussed herein. The possibility that certain initiation factors might act as RNA helicases is evaluated along with other ideas about the functions of mRNA- and ATP-binding factors. A second controversial issue concerns the universality of the scanning mechanism for initiation of translation. According to the conventional scanning model, the initial contact between eukaryotic ribosomes and mRNA occurs exclusively at the 5' terminus of the message, which is usually capped. The existence of uncapped mRNAs among a few plant and animal viruses has prompted a vigorous search for other modes of initiation. An "internal initiation" mechanism, first proposed for picornaviruses, has received considerable attention. Although a large body of evidence has been adduced in support of such a mechanism, many of the experiments appear flawed or inconclusive. Some suggestions are given for improving experiments designed to test the internal initiation hypothesis.
Some sugar modified analogs of 2'-deoxy-E-5-styryluridine triphosphates were synthesized and examined for their inhibitory effects on eukaryotic DNA polymerases and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Among these compounds, 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-E-5-styrylUTP (6) and 2',3'-dideoxy-E-5-styrylUTP (7) showed remarkable inhibitory effects on reverse transcriptase. The mode of action and the influence of the substituent at C-5 of 2',3'-dideoxyUTP analogs will be described.