Translation initiation at the 5’-polyadenylated and uncapped mRNAs from the yeast viruslike elements

Abstract

Linear cytoplasmic DNA plasmids pGKL1 and pGKL2, classified as virus-like elements (VLEs), have been found in the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. VLEs encode a killer toxin and exhibit specific properties, including host independent replication and transcription. However, the mechanisms of transcription and translation of the VLE-specific genes have not yet been fully elucidated.