American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science, 6508(369), p. 1220-1227, 2020
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Finding the start Eukaryotic translation involves many players in a dynamic and well-orchestrated process. A 43 S preinitiation complex (PIC) comprises the 40 S ribosomal subunit; initiation factors, including the eIF3 complex, which is known to play a key role; and the transfer RNA used for translation initiation. The PIC is recruited to the cap-binding complex eIF4F at the 5′ end of messenger RNA (mRNA) to form a 48 S complex that scans along the mRNA for a start codon. Brito Querido et al. determined the structure of a reconstituted human 48 S complex using cryo–electron microscopy. They found that eIF4F binds to eIF3 near the exit site of the ribosome. This positioning suggests that downstream mRNA is likely pulled through the 40 S subunit to find the start codon. Science , this issue p. 1220