Biotechnology Letters, Vol.22, No.1, 59-63, 2000
Novel cap-independent translation with the 5 '-noncoding region of L-A virus mRNA
A novel cap-independent translation has been performed where the ribosome entry is regulated by the 5'-noncoding region (NCR) of L-A virus mRNA. Despite L-A virus mRNA containing neither cap structure nor a poly(A) tail, the reconstructed mRNA encoding the 5' NCR of L-A virus mRNA and a reporter gene (luciferase) was translated, in yeast lysate, 60 times more efficiently than control mRNA. The 5' NCR from L-A virus was effective in regulating the recruitment of ribosome in vitro. A possible mechanism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is also suggested, whereby the ribosome entry is regulated by the 5' NCR of L-A virus mRNA.