eIF3d is an mRNA cap-binding protein required for specialized translation initiation

Eukaryotic mRNAs contain a 5' cap structure critical for recruitment of the translation machinery and initiation of protein synthesis. mRNA recognition is thought to require direct interactions between eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and the mRNA cap. However, translation of numerous capped mRNAs remains robust during cellular stress, early development, and cell cycle progression(1) despite eIF4E inactivation. Here we describe a new cellular cap-dependent pathway of translation initiation that relies on a previously unknown cap-binding activity of eIF3d, a subunit of the 800-kilodalton eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) complex. A 1.4 Å crystal structure of the eIF3d cap-binding domain reveals unexpected homology to endonucleases involved in RNA turnover, and allows modeling of cap recognition by eIF3d. eIF3d makes specific contacts to the cap, as exemplified by cap analog competition, and these interactions are essential for assembly of translation initiation complexes on eIF3-specialized mRNAs(2) such as the cell proliferation regulator c-Jun. The c-Jun mRNA further encodes an inhibitory RNA element that blocks eIF4E recruitment, thus enforcing alternative cap recognition by eIF3d. Our results reveal a new mechanism of cap-dependent translation independent of eIF4E, and illustrate how modular RNA elements work in concert to direct specialized forms of translation initiation.