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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2025.12.30.697032

Missing steps of mitochondrial translation initiation identified in plants

Skaltsogiannis, V.·Soufari, H.·Giege, P.
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Abstract

Translation initiation, the first step of the translation cycle, involves initiation factors (mtIF) 2 and 3 in mitochondria. mtIF3 release from the ribosomal small subunit was believed to be a prerequisite for the recruitment of the initiator tRNA. Here we use cryogenic electron microscopy to characterize plant mitochondria pre-initiation complexes and to reveal how plant mtIF3 binds the initiator tRNA and facilitates its accommodation in the decoding center.

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Skaltsogiannis, V., Soufari, H., Giege, P.. 2025-12-30. Missing steps of mitochondrial translation initiation identified in plants. https://doi.org/10.64898/2025.12.30.697032

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