The translation initiation process is an important checkpoint that assures the correct protein production. Within this phase, Initiation Factor IF2 plays an important role along all early and late steps of the process. During late reactions, IF2 enhances the joining of the 50S subunit to the 30S Initiation Complex (IC) and positions initiator tRNA in the 70S IC. Concomitantly, IF2 hydrolyses a GTP molecule which led to propose that the active hydrolysis of GTP stimulates both above events. However, recent mutagenic studies of IF2 showed that inhibiting its GTP hydrolytic activity does not compromise the overall translation initiation process. Moreover, biochemical studies indicate that the dissociation of inorganic phosphate (Pi) is a late event, prior to the release of IF2. These findings indicated that it is the dissociation of Pi that weakens the interaction of IF2 with the ribosome. ...