biostudies-literatureHarkins SNIAID NIH HHS987-96https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC538586biostudies-literatureUnknown79(2)Translational initiation of most eukaryotic mRNAs occurs when a preinitiation complex binds to the 5' cap, scans the mRNA, and selects a particular AUG codon as the initiation site. Selection of the correct initiation codon relies, in part, on its flanking residues; in mammalian cells, the core of the "Kozak" consensus is R-3CCAUGG+4 (R=purine; the A residue is designated position +1). The R-3 is considered the most important flanking residue, followed by G+4. Picornaviral mRNAs differ from most cellular mRNAs in several ways; they are uncapped, and they contain an internal ribosome entry site that allows the ribosome to bind near the initiation codon. The initiation codon of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is flanked by both R-3 and G+4 (AAAATGG). Here, we report the construction of full-length Journal of virologyAnalysis of translational initiation in coxsackievirus B3 suggests an alternative explanation for the high frequency of R+4 in the eukaryotic consensus motif.PMC538586R-01 AI-42314R01 AI042314T32 AI007354Cornell CTHarkins SWhitton JLfalseAnalysis of translational initiation in coxsackievirus B3 suggests an alternative explanation for the high frequency of R+4 in the eukaryotic consensus motif.Translational initiation of most eukaryotic mRNAs occurs when a preinitiation complex binds to the 5' cap, scans the mRNA, and selects a particular AUG codon as the initiation site. Selection of the correct initiation codon relies, in part, on its flanking residues; in mammalian cells, the core of the "Kozak" consensus is R-3CCAUGG+4 (R=purine; the A residue is designated position +1). The R-3 is considered the most important flanking residue, followed by G+4. Picornaviral mRNAs differ from most cellular mRNAs in several ways; they are uncapped, and they contain an internal ribosome entry site that allows the ribosome to bind near the initiation codon. The initiation codon of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is flanked by both R-3 and G+4 (AAAATGG). Here, we report the construction of full-length 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z2005 Jan2025-04-27T03:29:10.647Z2019-03-27T01:08:25ZS-EPMC5385861561332710.1128/JVI.79.2.987-996.200510.1128/jvi.79.2.987-996.2005