* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received July 7, 1998; Revision received September 20, 1998
Important new results obtained in studies of prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation termination during 1994-1998 are reviewed. Properties of the newly discovered factors RF3, eRF1, and eRF3 are described. Similarity and difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems of translation termination and recent models of molecular mechanisms of protein synthesis at the termination stage are discussed. Hypotheses concerning the biological role of eRF3 are formulated and discussed.
KEY WORDS: protein biosynthesis, termination of translation, eukaryotes