Initiation of Protein Synthesis by the Eukaryotic Translational Apparatus on Circular RNAs
Abstract
The ribosome scanning model predicts that eukaryotic ribosomal 40 S subunits enter all messenger RNAs at their 5′ ends. Here, it is reported that eukaryotic ribosomes can initiate translation on circular RNAs, but only if the RNAs contain internal ribosome entry site elements. Long-repeating polypeptide chains were synthesized from RNA circles with continuous open reading frames. These results indicate that ribosomes can translate such RNA circles for multiple consecutive rounds and that the free 5′ end of a messenger RNA is not necessarily the entry point for 40 S subunits.
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Although circRNA was initially thought not to serve as a translational template, later reports contradicted this hypothesis.
“Although it was initially thought not to serve as a translational template, later reports contradicted this hypothesis, triggering further research.48”
From COVID-19 mRNA vaccines: Platforms and current developments (2022) · cites this paper as [48]
circRNA can be translated in eukaryotic cells and, due to its closed-ring structure, is significantly more resistant to exonuclease-mediated degradation compared with linear mRNA.
“circRNA (also called endless RNA) can be translated in eukaryotic cells48 and, due to its closed-ring structure, is significantly more resistant to exonuclease-mediated degradation compared with linear mRNA.151”
From COVID-19 mRNA vaccines: Platforms and current developments (2022) · cites this paper as [48]
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- Authors
- Chen, C.-Y., & Sarnow, P.
- Affiliations
- Molecular Biology Program, Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Genetics, Dyde Laboratory, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA.
- University of Colorado Health (US)
- ORCID
- Sarnow, Peter
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1995-04-21
- Volume
- 268
- Issue
- 5209
- Pages
- 415-417
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2094813328
- Cited by
- 766
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 85 · 2020: 83 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 5.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Circular RNAs in diseases
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Research and Splicing
- Keywords
- circular RNA, internal ribosome entry site, translation initiation, 80S ribosome, 40S ribosomal subunit, open reading frames, polypeptide synthesis
- MeSH terms
- RNA, Circular, Codon, Encephalomyocarditis virus, Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational, Ribosomes, RNA, RNA, Messenger, Templates, Genetic, Protein Biosynthesis, Open Reading Frames
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