C-myc internal ribosome entry site (IRES)

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c-myc internal ribosome entry site (IRES)

Type:	Cis-reg; IRES;
2° structure:	Published; PubMed
Seed alignment:	PubMed
Avg length:	296.5 nucleotides
Avg identity:	79%

The c-myc internal ribosome entry site (IRES) is an RNA element present in the 5' UTR of the mRNA of C-myc and allows cap-independent translation. The mammalian c-myc gene is a proto-oncogene which is required for cell proliferation, transformation and death. c-myc mRNA has an alternative method of translation via internal ribosome entry where ribosomes are recruited to the IRES located in the 5' UTR thus bypassing the typical eukaryotic cap-dependent translation pathway [1].

[edit] References

[1] Le Quesne, JP; Stoneley M, Fraser GA, Willis AE (2001). "Derivation of a structural model for the c-myc IRES". J Mol Biol 310: 111–126. doi:10.1006/jmbi.2001.4745. PMID 11419940.