Biotechnology, University of Kashmir, India; Neuroanatomy, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany.
Brain Res. 2012 Dec 3;1487:99-106. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.05.065. Epub 2012 Jul 6.
Cap-independent translation using an internal ribosome entry site instead of the 5'-Cap structure has been discovered in positive-sense RNA viruses and eukaryotic genomes including a subset of gap junction forming connexins genes. With a growing number of mutations found in human connexin genes and studies on genetically modified mouse models mechanisms highlighting the important role of gap junctional communication in multicellular organism it is obvious that mechanism need to be in place to preserve this critical property even under conditions when Cap-mediated translation is scrutinized. To ensure sustained gap junctional communication, rapid initiation of translation of preexisting connexin mRNAs is one possibility, and the presence of internal ribosome entry sites in gap junction genes comply with such a requirement. In this review, we will summarize past and recent findings to build a case for IRES mediated translation as an alternative regulatory pathway facilitating gap junctional communication. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Electrical Synapses.
已在正链 RNA 病毒和真核基因组中发现了使用内部核糖体进入位点（IRES）而不是 5'-帽结构进行非依赖帽结构的翻译，包括间隙连接形成连接蛋白基因的一个亚组。随着在人类连接蛋白基因中发现越来越多的突变以及对基因修饰的小鼠模型机制的研究，这些研究突出了间隙连接通讯在多细胞生物中的重要作用，因此显然需要有一种机制来维持这种关键特性，即使在帽介导的翻译受到严格审查的情况下也是如此。为了确保持续的间隙连接通讯，对现有连接蛋白 mRNA 的快速起始翻译是一种可能性，而间隙连接基因中存在内部核糖体进入位点符合这一要求。在这篇综述中，我们将总结过去和最近的发现，为 IRES 介导的翻译作为促进间隙连接通讯的替代调节途径建立一个案例。本文是题为“电突触”的特刊的一部分。
