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Translation

Switching to cap-independence

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 8, pages 6–7 (2008)Cite this article

m7GTP cap-dependent translation requires the eIF4F initiation complex, and cap-independent translation uses an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the mRNA 5′ untranslated region. Cap-independent mRNAs can bypass translation inhibition when subjected to stresses such as hypoxia, and some mRNAs (including vascular endothelial growth factor A VEGFA ) can use both the cap and IRES.

Robert Schneider, Silvia Formenti and colleagues examined the expression of translation initiation factors in primary breast cancer samples. Although expression of eIF4E increased, it did not do so in line with tumour size. They found that 4EBP1 (also known as eIF4EBP1), which sequesters eIF4E, part of the eIF4F complex, and eIF4G, which is involved in mediating IRES-dependent initiation, were more highly expressed in larger advanced breast tumours.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Braunstein, S. et al. A hypoxia-controlled cap-dependent to cap-independent translation switch in breast cancer. Mol. Cell 28, 501–512 (2007)

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Authors
  1. Sarah Seton-Rogers
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Seton-Rogers, S. Switching to cap-independence. Nat Rev Cancer 8, 6–7 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc2303

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc2303

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