Translational repression All eukaryotic mRNAs contain a 5′-cap structure, m7GpppN, where m is a methyl group, and N is any nucleotide. In the cytoplasm, the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binds to the cap as well as to eIF4G, which functions as a scaffold and in turn interacts with eIF4A RNA helicase.