Internal ribosome entry site
SEQUENCE IN THE 5′ UTR OF SOME MRNAS WHERE A RIBOSOME CAN BIND
Internal Ribosome Entry Sites
An internal ribosome entry site, abbreviated IRES, is an RNA element that allows for translation initiation in a cap-independent manner, as part of the greater process of protein synthesis. In eukaryotic translation, initiation typically occurs at the 5' end of mRNA molecules, since 5' cap recognition is required for the assembly of the initiation complex.