Start codon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ATG and AUG denote sequences of DNA and RNA respectively that are the start codon or initiation codon encoding the amino acid methionine (Met) in eukaryotes and a modified Met (fMet) in prokaryotes.

The principle called the Central dogma of molecular biology describes the process of translation of a gene to a protein. Basically specific sequences of DNA act as a template to synthesize mRNA in a process termed "transcription" in the nucleus. This mRNA is exported from the nucleus into the cytoplasm of the cell and acts as a template to synthesize protein in a process called "translation."

Three nucleotide bases specify one amino acid in the genetic code. Usually the first three bases of the coding sequence (CDS) of mRNA to be translated into protein are AUG (or ATG in DNA). AUG encodes methionine, and therefore the first amino acid of almost all proteins is initially methionine, although sometimes the methionine is removed after translation. The start codon is almost always preceded by an untranslated region 5' UTR.

Very rarely in higher organisms (eukaryotes) non AUG start codons are used.

In addition to AUG, alternative start codons, mainly GUG and UUG are used in prokaryotes. For example E. coli uses 83% ATG (AUG), 14% GTG (GUG), 3% TTG (UUG) and one or two others.[1]

Well known coding regions that do not have ATG initiation codons are those of lacI (GTG)[2] and lacA (TTG)[3] in the E. coli lac operon.

[edit] External links

  • The Genetic Codes. Compiled by Andrzej (Anjay) Elzanowski and Jim Ostell, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Complete Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli K-12. Frederick R. Blattner, Guy Plunkett III, Craig A. Bloch, Nicole T. Perna, Valerie Burland, Monica Riley, Julio Collado-Vides, Jeremy D. Glasner, Christopher K. Rode, George F. Mayhew, Jason Gregor, Nelson Wayne Davis, Heather A. Kirkpatrick, Michael A. Goeden, Debra J. Rose, Bob Mau, Ying Shao. Science 277, 1453-1474 (1997)
  2. ^ NCBI Sequence Viewer v2.0
  3. ^ NCBI Sequence Viewer v2.0
v • d • e
Protein biosynthesis: translation (prokaryotic, eukaryotic)
Ribosomal proteins
Other concepts