Initiation is a critical step in translation, during which the ribosome lands on the start codon and sets the correct reading frame for mRNA decoding. The rate and efficiency of translation are largely determined by initiation, which is therefore the preferred target of translation regulation mechanisms. Initiation has incurred an extensive evolutionary divergence among the primary domains of cell descent. The Archaea, albeit prokaryotes, have an initiation mechanism and apparatus more complex than those of the Bacteria; the molecular details of archaeal initiation are just beginning to be unravelled. The most notable aspects of archaeal initiation are the presence of two, perhaps three, distinct mechanisms for mRNA–ribosome interaction and the presence of a relatively large set of IFs (initiation factors), several of which are shared exclusively with the Eukarya. Among these, the protein termed a/eIF2 (archaeal/eukaryotic IF2) and aIF6 (archaeal IF6) are of special interest, since they appear to play key regulatory roles in the Eukarya. Studies of the function of these factors in Archaea have uncovered new features that will help to elucidate their conserved and domain-specific functions.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
February 2011
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
January 19 2011
Translation initiation in Archaea: conserved and domain-specific features Available to Purchase
Dario Benelli;
Dario Benelli
1Department of Cell Biotechnologies and Haematology, University of Rome Sapienza, Policlinico Umberto 1, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Paola Londei
Paola Londei
1
1Department of Cell Biotechnologies and Haematology, University of Rome Sapienza, Policlinico Umberto 1, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
August 13 2010
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2011 Biochemical Society
2011
Biochem Soc Trans (2011) 39 (1): 89–93.
Article history
Received:
August 13 2010
Citation
Dario Benelli, Paola Londei; Translation initiation in Archaea: conserved and domain-specific features. Biochem Soc Trans 1 February 2011; 39 (1): 89–93. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0390089
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Get Email Alerts
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() |