Scp160p is required for translational efficiency of codon-optimized mRNAs in yeast.

The budding yeast multi-K homology domain RNA-binding protein Scp160p binds to >1000 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and polyribosomes, and its mammalian homolog vigilin binds transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and translation elongation factor EF1alpha. Despite its implication in translation, studies on Scp160p's molecular function are lacking to date. We applied translational profiling approaches and demonstrate that the association of a specific subset of mRNAs with ribosomes or heavy polysomes depends on Scp160p.