Translation mediated by the nuclear cap-binding complex is confined to the perinuclear region via a CTIF-DDX19B interaction.

Newly synthesized mRNA is translated during its export through the nuclear pore complex, when its 5'-cap structure is still bound by the nuclear cap-binding complex (CBC), a heterodimer of cap-binding protein (CBP) 80 and CBP20. Despite its critical role in mRNA surveillance, the mechanism by which CBC-dependent translation (CT) is regulated remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the CT initiation factor (CTIF) is tethered in a translationally incompetent manner to the perinuclear region by the DEAD-box helicase 19B (DDX19B). DDX19B hands over CTIF to CBP80, which is associated with the 5'-cap of a newly exported mRNA. The resulting CBP80-CTIF complex then initiates CT in the perinuclear region. We also show that impeding the interaction between CTIF and DDX19B leads to uncontrolled CT throughout the cytosol, consequently dysregulating nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Altogether, our data provide molecular evidence supporting the importance of tight control of local translation in the perinuclear region.