mRNA Structure Regulates Translation at Every Step.
- 1Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina27599-3290, United States.
Abstract
Precise, context-sensitive control of protein synthesis is critical in eukaryotic cells, and mRNA structure has emerged as a central mechanism for achieving this control. mRNA structures influence every stage of translation. During initiation, structures within 5' untranslated regions modulate ribosome association with mRNA and the balance between translation of the main open reading frame and use of upstream or alternative start sites. During elongation, structures in the coding sequence govern ribosome pausing in ways that can either protect mRNA stability or trigger decay. During termination, structures downstream of primary stop codons promote readthrough to generate protein isoforms in a tissue-specific manner. mRNA structures are remodeled by helicase expression, post-transcriptional modifications, and translational programming to provide additional layers of regulation. We review recent advances illuminating diverse mechanisms by which RNA structure modulates translation.
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BibTeX
@article{khitun2026mrna,
title = {{mRNA Structure Regulates Translation at Every Step.}},
author = {Alexandra Khitun and Kevin M Weeks},
journal = {Biochemistry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1021/acs.biochem.6c00561},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42899590},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - mRNA Structure Regulates Translation at Every Step.
AU - Alexandra Khitun
AU - Kevin M Weeks
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Biochemistry
DO - 10.1021/acs.biochem.6c00561
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42899590
AB - Precise, context-sensitive control of protein synthesis is critical in eukaryotic cells, and mRNA structure has emerged as a central mechanism for achieving this control. mRNA structures influence every stage of translation. During initiation, structures within 5' untranslated regions modulate ribosome association with mRNA and the balance between translation of the main open reading frame and use of upstream or alternative start sites. During elongation, structures in the coding sequence govern ribosome pausing in ways that can either protect mRNA stability or trigger decay. During termination, structures downstream of primary stop codons promote readthrough to generate protein isoforms in a tissue-specific manner. mRNA structures are remodeled by helicase expression, post-transcriptional modifications, and translational programming to provide additional layers of regulation. We review recent advances illuminating diverse mechanisms by which RNA structure modulates translation.
SN - 0006-2960
SN - 1520-4995
ER -