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. 2014 Jul 8;5(6):779–801. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1246

Figure 1.

WRNA-1246-FIG-0001-c

Eukaryotic translation initiation. The 5′ 7‐methyl‐guanosine cap of cellular mRNA is bound by the cap‐binding complex eIF4F, which consists of the cap‐binding protein 4E, the helicase 4A, and the scaffold protein 4G. eIF4G facilitates recruitment of the 43S preinitiation complex (1) and circularization of the mRNA through interaction with poly(A) binding proteins (PABP) bound to the 3′ poly(A) tail. Following 43S recruitment, the complex undergoes ATP‐dependent directional scanning (2) to locate the AUG start codon within a favorable context. (3) Start codon recognition and anticodon:codon pairing results in hydrolysis of the eIF2‐bound GTP in a process mediated by eIF5. Subsequently, eIF5B mediates joining of the 60S ribosomal subunit to form an elongation‐competent 80S ribosome (4). (Reprinted with permission from Ref 6. Copyright 2004 Nature Publishing Group)