Interaction of the mRNA cap with the translational machinery is a critical and early step in the initiation of protein synthesis. To better understand this process, we determined kinetic constants for the interaction of m 7 GpppG with human eIF4E by stopped-flow fluorescence quenching in the presence of a 90-amino acid fragment of human eIF4G that contains the eIF4E-binding domain (eIF4G(557-646)). The values obtained, k on ؍ 179 ؋ 10 6 M ؊1 s ؊1 and k off ؍ 79 s ؊1 , were the same as reported previously in the absence of an eIF4G-derived peptide. We also used surface plasmon resonance to determine kinetic constants for the binding of eIF4E to eIF4G(557-646), both in the presence and absence of m 7 GpppG. The results indicated that eIF4G(557-646) binds eIF4E and eIF4E⅐m 7 GpppG at the same rate, with k on ؍ 3 ؋ 10 6 M ؊1 s ؊1 and k off ؍ 0.01 s ؊1 . Our data represent the first full kinetic description of the interaction of eIF4E with its two specific ligands. The results demonstrate that the formation of the m 7 GpppG⅐eIF4E⅐eIF4G(557-646) complex obeys a sequential, random kinetic mechanism and that there is no preferential pathway for its formation. Thus, even though eIF4G(557-646) binds eIF4E tightly, it does not increase the affinity of eIF4E for m 7 GpppG, as has been claimed in several previous publications. We did, in fact, observe increased binding to m 7 GTP-Sepharose in the presence of eIF4G(557-646), but only with recombinant eIF4E that was prepared from inclusion bodies.Recruitment of mRNA to the 43 S translation initiation complex to form the 48 S initiation complex is a highly regulated process that is rate-limiting for protein synthesis under normal circumstances (in the absence of cellular stress, virus infection, etc.) and requires eIF3, 2 poly (A)-binding protein (PABP), and the eIF4 factors (1, 2). The eIF4 factors consist of: eIF4A, a 46-kDa ATP-dependent RNA helicase; eIF4B, a 70-kDa RNAbinding and -annealing protein that stimulates eIF4A activity; eIF4H, a 25-kDa protein that also stimulates eIF4A; eIF4E, a 25-kDa cap-binding protein; and eIF4G, a 185-kDa protein that specifically binds to and co-localizes all of the other proteins involved in mRNA recruitment on the 40 S subunit. A complex of eIF4G, eIF4E, and eIF4A can be isolated from the ribosomal high-salt wash and is termed eIF4F.A critical step in mRNA recruitment is binding of the cap to eIF4E. This occurs mainly by means of -stacking, H-bonding, and ionic interactions inside the narrow cap-binding slot in the concave surface of the protein (3-5). The binding reaction is electrostatically steered and is accompanied by a partial protonation of the m 7 G moiety at N1 and hydration of the complex (6, 7). The kinetics of cap analog binding to eIF4E have been studied by stopped-flow fluorescence quenching (8 -11). Authors of the earlier studies interpreted their kinetic data as indicating a two-step association reaction, in which an initial fast binding is followed by a slow conformational rearrangement (8, 9). However, subsequen...