Giant DNA viruses encode a hallmark translation initiation complex of eukaryotic life - PubMed
3 days ago
- #translation initiation
- #eIF4F
- #giant DNA viruses
- Giant DNA viruses encode a functional IF4F translation-initiation complex, blurring the line between cellular and acellular biology.
- During infection, viral IF4F replaces eukaryotic IF4F on host ribosomes, regulating viral translation, virion formation, and replication plasticity.
- Structural analysis shows the viral IF4F's mRNA cap-binding subunit interacts exclusively with viral mRNAs, switching translation from host to viral proteins.
- This discovery highlights evolutionary innovations in a core process of life, showing viruses can express eukaryotic translation-initiation complexes.