Bacterial initiation factor 2 explained

Bacterial initiation factor-2 is a bacterial initiation factor.

IF2 binds to an initiator tRNA and controls the entry of tRNA onto the ribosome. IF2, bound to GTP, binds to the 30S P site. After associating with the 30S subunit, fMet-tRNA_f binds to the IF2 then IF2 transfers the tRNA into the partial P site. When the 50S subunit joins, it hydrolyzes GTP to GDP and P_i, causing a conformational change in the IF2 that causes IF2 to release and allow the 70S ribosome to form.

Human mitochondria use a nuclear-encoded homolog, MTIF2, for translation initiation.^[1]

Notes and References

1. D'Souza AR, Minczuk M . Mitochondrial transcription and translation: overview . Essays in Biochemistry . 62 . 3 . 309–320 . July 2018 . 30030363 . 6056719 . 10.1042/EBC20170102 .