Inter-polysomal coupling of termination and initiation during translation in eukaryotic cell-free system.

The recording of the luciferase-generated luminescence in the eukaryotic cell-free translation system programmed with mRNA encoding firefly luciferase (Luc-mRNA) showed that the addition of free exogenous mRNAs into the translation reactor induces the immediate release of the functionally active protein from the polyribosomes of the translation system. The phenomenon did not depend on the coding specificity of the added free mRNA. At the same time it depended on the "initiation potential" of the added mRNA (including the features that ensure the successful initiation of translation, such as the presence of the cap structure and the sufficient concentration of the added mRNA in the translation mixture).

Internal translation initiation and eIF4F/ATP-independent scanning of mRNA by eukaryotic ribosomal particles.

The recombinant mRNAs with 5'-untranslated region, called omega leader, of tobacco mosaic virus RNA are known to be well translated in eukaryotic cell-free systems, even if deprived of cap structure. Using the method of primer extension inhibition (toe-printing), the ribosomal particles were shown to initiate translation at uncapped omega leader when its 5'-end was blocked by a stable RNA-DNA double helix, thus providing evidence for internal initiation. The scanning of the leader sequence and the formation of ribosomal 48S initiation complexes at the initiation AUG codon occurred in the absence of ATP-dependent initiation factor eIF4F, as well as without ATP.

Insight into the structural organization of the omega leader of TMV RNA: the role of various regions of the sequence in the formation of a compact structure of the omega RNA.

The 5'-untranslated sequence of tobacco mosaic virus RNA--the so called omega leader--is a well-known translational enhancer. The structure of the omega RNA has unusual features. Despite the absence of extensive secondary structure of the Watson-Crick type, the omega RNA possesses a stable compact conformation.