"Unveiling the Role of Downstream RNA Hairpins in mRNA Translation"

Researchers have discovered a mechanism of translational regulation involving RNA hairpins that can lead to higher translation of upstream start codons (uAUGs). The study, conducted in Arabidopsis and humans, found that the presence of a hairpin loop between two start codons slows down the scanning process of ribosomal subunits, allowing for more time for recognition of the upstream start codon and resulting in a higher translation rate from that starting point. This mechanism, functioning like a logic gate, has implications for understanding start-codon selection in translation initiation across different organisms and potential therapeutic targeting.