The stage at which ribosomes are recruited to messenger RNAs (mRNAs) is an elaborate and highly regulated phase of protein synthesis. Upon completion of this step, a ribosome is positioned at an appropriate initiation codon and primed to synthesize the encoded polypeptide product. In most circumstances, this step commits the ribosome to translate the mRNA. We summarize the knowledge regarding the initiation factors implicated in this activity as well as review different mechanisms by which this process is conducted.
Keywords: eIF4A; eIF4B; eIF4E; eIF4F; eIF4G; eIF4H; eukaryotic initiation factors; ribosome recruitment; translation.