Translation of the mRNA encoding the immunoglobulin heavy-chain binding protein (BiP) is enhanced in poliovirus-infected cells at a time when translation of host cell mRNAs is inhibited. To test whether the mRNA of BiP is translated by internal ribosome binding, like picomaviral RNAs, we constructed plasmids for the expression of dicistronic hybrid RNAs containing the 5' noncoding region (5'NCR) of BiP as an intercistronic spacer element between two cistrons. Expression of these dicistronic mRNAs in mammalian cells resulted in efficient translation of both cistrons, demonstrating that the 5'NCR of BiP can confer internal ribosome binding to a heterologous RNA. This result suggests that the mRNA encoding BiP is bifunctional and can be translated by an internal ribosome-binding mechanism, in addition to the conventional cap-dependent scanning mechanism. This is the first demonstration of a cellular mRNA that can be translated by internal ribosome binding, and implies that this may be a mechanism for cellular translational regulation.