What is the primary function of an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in RNA viruses?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the primary function of an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in RNA viruses. This concept relates to molecular biology, specifically how certain RNA structures facilitate protein synthesis.
Answer
To facilitate cap-independent initiation of translation.
The primary function of an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in RNA viruses is to allow ribosomes to bind and initiate translation without the need for ribosomal scanning or a 5' cap structure, facilitating cap-independent initiation.
Answer for screen readers
The primary function of an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in RNA viruses is to allow ribosomes to bind and initiate translation without the need for ribosomal scanning or a 5' cap structure, facilitating cap-independent initiation.
More Information
IRES elements are important for translation in situations where the typical cap-dependent mechanism is inhibited, such as during viral infection or cellular stress.
Tips
A common mistake is to think that IRES elements are involved in the 5' cap structure. They actually provide an alternative pathway for translation initiation.
Sources
- Internal Ribosome Entry Site - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Internal ribosome entry site - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- Deconstructing internal ribosome entry site elements: an update of... - royalsocietypublishing.org
