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Translation initiation of viral mRNAs
Author(s) -
LópezLastra Marcelo,
Ramdohr Pablo,
Letelier Alejandro,
Vallejos Maricarmen,
VeraOtarola Jorge,
ValienteEcheverría Fernando
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
reviews in medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.06
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1654
pISSN - 1052-9276
DOI - 10.1002/rmv.649
Subject(s) - translation (biology) , initiation factor , biology , ribosome , protein biosynthesis , eukaryotic translation , eif4e , eukaryotic initiation factor , viral replication , internal ribosome entry site , viral protein , microbiology and biotechnology , translational regulation , eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 gamma , viral entry , virology , computational biology , rna , messenger rna , genetics , virus , gene
Viruses depend on cells for their replication but have evolved mechanisms to achieve this in an efficient and, in some instances, a cell‐type‐specific manner. The expression of viral proteins is frequently subject to translational control. The dominant target of such control is the initiation step of protein synthesis. Indeed, during the early stages of infection, viral mRNAs must compete with their host counterparts for the protein synthetic machinery, especially for the limited pool of eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) that mediate the recruitment of ribosomes to both viral and cellular mRNAs. To circumvent this competition viruses use diverse strategies so that ribosomes can be recruited selectively to viral mRNAs. In this review we focus on the initiation of protein synthesis and outline some of the strategies used by viruses to ensure efficient translation initiation of their mRNAs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.