IRESs
Internal Ribosome Entry Sites, or IRESs, are nucleotide sequences within messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules that allow translation initiation in a cap-independent manner. Normally, translation in eukaryotes begins at the 5' cap of the mRNA. However, IRESs provide an alternative binding site for ribosomes downstream from the 5' end, enabling the ribosome to scan the mRNA and initiate translation at a specific internal start codon.
These sequences are found in a variety of eukaryotic mRNAs, including those encoding viral proteins, cellular
The discovery of IRESs has significantly impacted our understanding of gene expression regulation. They play crucial