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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Aug 10.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Chem. 2022 Jun 20;14(8):905–913. doi: 10.1038/s41557-022-00972-7

Figure 1. The 5′ cap is a hallmark of eukaryotic mRNAs governing translation initiation.

Figure 1

a) Key steps in translation initiation. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E binds directly to the 5’ cap. The heterotrimeric eIF4F complex assembles on the 5′ cap leading to binding of the 40S ribosomal subunit, assembly of the eukaryotic 80S ribosome and translation initiation. b) Eukaryotic mRNA featuring cap 0 structure with recognition site for eIF4E, the site used for chemical modification in this study and the first transcribed nucleotide. c) Structure of eIF4E highlighting molecular interactions for cap 0 recognition. d) Concept of FlashCaps for light-induced translation. A single photo-cleavable group (red triangle) at the cap 0 impairs binding to eIF4E. FlashCaps are compatible with routine protocols for transcription and transfection. Following light-induced deprotection, the native mRNA with a 5’ cap 0 is released and translated. Abbreviations: UTR: untranslated region; PABP: poly(A) binding protein; ORF: open reading frame.