Initiation factor

In molecular biology, initiation factors are proteins that bind to the small subunit of the ribosome during the initiation of translation, a part of protein biosynthesis.[1]

Initiation factors can interact with repressors to slow down or prevent translation. They have the ability to interact with activators to help them start or increase the rate of translation. In bacteria, they are simply called IFs (i.e.., IF1, IF2, & IF3) and in eukaryotes they are known as eIFs (i.e.., eIF1, eIF2, eIF3).[1] Translation initiation is sometimes described as three step process which initiation factors help to carry out. First, the tRNA carrying a methionine amino acid binds to the small subunit of ribosome, then binds to the mRNA, and finally joins together with the large subunit of ribosome. The initiation factors that help with this process each have different roles and structures.[2]

  1. ^ a b Cox MM, Doudna JA, O'Donnell M (2012). Molecular biology : principles and practice. New York, NY: W.H. Freeman and Co. ISBN 978-0-7167-7998-8. OCLC 814245170.
  2. ^ Sonenberg N, Dever TE (February 2003). "Eukaryotic translation initiation factors and regulators". Current Opinion in Structural Biology. 13 (1): 56–63. doi:10.1016/S0959-440X(03)00009-5. PMID 12581660.