Binding of ribosomes to 5'-terminal leader sequences of eukaryotic messenger RNAs.
Abstract
Tobacco mosaic virus and turnip yellow mosaic virus genome RNAs, which have long (greater than or equal to 69 nucleotides) 5'-terminal leader sequences preceding the AUG initiation codon, can form disome initiation complexes when incubated with a wheat germ extract and sparsomycin. In tobacco mosaic virus RNA, whereas one ribosome in such complexes presumably occupies the AUG-containing initiation site, the other is located within the RNA leader sequence. The results favor a model of eukaryotic initiation in which ribosomes first bind to the 5' end of the mRNA independently of AUG, then advance to the AUG initiation codon, where protein synthesis ensues.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- July 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.76.7.3111
- Bibcode:
- 1979PNAS...76.3111F