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Translational regulation by mRNA/protein interactions in eukaryotic cells: Ferritin and beyond
Author(s) -
Melefors Öjar,
Hentze Matthias W.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.950150203
Subject(s) - translational regulation , messenger rna , translation (biology) , ferritin , microbiology and biotechnology , untranslated region , biology , translational efficiency , protein biosynthesis , chemistry , computational biology , genetics , gene , biochemistry
The expression of certain eukaryotic genes is – at least in part – controlled at the level of mRNA translation. The step of translational initiation represents the primary target for regulation. The regulation of the intracellular iron storage protein ferritin in response to iron levels provides a good example of translational control by a reversible RNA/protein interaction in the 5' untranslated region of an mRNA. We consider mechanisms by which mRNA/protein interactions may impede translation initiation and discuss recent data suggesting that the ferritin example may represent the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of a more general theme for translational control.