Distinct regions of human eIF3 are sufficient for binding to the HCV IRES and the 40S ribosomal subunit.

ABSTRACT: Translation of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genomic RNA initiates from an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in its 5' untranslated region and requires a minimal subset of translation initiation factors to occur, namely eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 2 and eIF3. Low-resolution structural information has revealed how the HCV IRES RNA binds human eIF3 and the 40S ribosomal subunit and positions the start codon for initiation. However, the exact nature of the interactions between the HCV IRES RNA and the translational machinery remains unknown. Using limited proteolysis and mass spectrometry, we show that distinct regions of human eIF3 are sufficient for binding to the HCV IRES RNA and the 40S subunit. Notably, the eIF3 subunit eIF3b is protected by HCV IRES RNA binding, yet is exposed in

SUBMITTER: Cai Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2975054 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature