The mechanism of translation initiation in linear and circular mRNAs influences translation efficiency. Covalent attachment of an N7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap increases protein production from circular mRNAs in mice. Hybridization with capped endogenous RNAs also promotes protein production in cells, suggesting that this interaction might also occur between endogenous RNAs.
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This is a summary of: Fukuchi, K. et al. Internal cap-initiated translation for efficient protein production from circular mRNA. Nat. Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-025-02561-8 (2025).
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Covalently or non-covalently attached m7G cap enhances protein production from circular mRNA. Nat Biotechnol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-025-02580-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-025-02580-5