MECHANISM OF ACTION AND REGULATION OF PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS INITIATION-FACTOR 4E - EFFECTS ON MESSENGER-RNA DISCRIMINATION, CELLULAR GROWTH-RATE, AND ONCOGENESIS

This chapter discusses the progress in laboratory and those of others in understanding one point at which regulation of the rate of protein synthesis occurs, the mRNA-binding step. It focuses on the structure, function, and regulation of protein synthesis initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E). Initiation of protein synthesis is a complex and highly regulated process, and there are numerous mechanisms by which regulation occurs, both of a global nature and mechanisms targeted for individual mRNAs. This chapter explains on only one factor and one step in protein synthesis, eIF-4E and the binding of mRNA to ribosomes. Thus, one may think of eIF-4E as a proto-oncogene and consider translational routes to oncogenesis, to complement and broaden current transcriptional models. In fact, some of the poorly translated proto-oncogene mRNAs listed in table that is given in the chapter, encode transcription factors, such that a general stimulation of translation would be expected to produce a disproportionate increase in transcription factor levels. © 1993, Academic Press, Inc.