BIOCHEMICAL MECHANISM TO CONTROL PROTEIN SYNTHESIS mRNA SPECIFIC INITIATION FACTORS
ABSTRACT Studies with cell fre systems of protein synthesis have shown that mRNAs are not translated uniformly by ribosomes. In particular the existence of mRNA specific initiation factors which stimulate or inhibit the translation of individual cistrons is now well recognized. We originally reported that E. coli initiation factor IF3 activity can be separated into subfractions differing in their activity toward MS2 and T4 mRNA. Our recent work, however, indicates that the specificity of IF3 for mRNAs actually results from its combination with "interference" protein factors. These proteins act in the presence of IF3 to stimulate the translation of certain cistrons while inhibiting that of others. We have isolated three interference factors from E. coli and characterized some of their cistron specificities on MS2 RNA, T4 and T7 early and late mRNAs. These factors can explain the heterogeneity of IF3 toward various mRNA. In vivo variations in the activity of ribosomes can result from changes either in IF3 or in an interference factor. We have also recently purified a mRNA-specific initiation factor from mammalian cells. This factor isolated from the ribosomal wash of rabbit reticulocytes stimulates haemoglobin mRNA translation but not that of Mengo virus RNA, in a crude extract from Krebs ascites cells. This factor stimulates a globin synthesis. Ribosome activity may be, therefore, regulated both quantitatively and qualitatively by such factors.