Part:BBa_K1471011

RBS (Arabidopsis Thaliana).

The initiation of protein biosynthesis is a major determinant of the efficiency of gene expression at the translational level. It is known that the nucleotide sequences around the AUG translation initiation codon act as an important signal to trigger the initiation of the translation event. (Kozak, 1987)

Understanding regulatory mechanisms of protein synthesis in eukaryotes is essential for the accurate annotation of genome sequences. Kozak reported that the nucleotide sequence GCCGCC(A/G)CCAUGG (AUG is the initiation codon) was frequently observed in vertebrate genes and that this 'consensus' sequence enhanced translation initiation. However, later studies using invertebrate, fungal and plant genes reported different 'consensus' sequences. (Nakagawa, 2007)

Although for any protein analysis it is crucial to know exactly which region of the mRNA is coding for protein, prediction of the translation initial site is still an unsolved problem. In eukaryotes, the scanning model postulates that the ribosome attaches first to the 5' end of the mRNA and scans along the 5'-3' direction until it encounters the first AUG. While translation initiation from the first AUG holds true in many cases, there are also a considerable number of exceptions. In these exceptions the main determining factor in AUG choice is the context of the respective codon. (Rangan, 2008)

Two decades ago, a consensus sequence for the context of the AUG codon in higher plants was proposed on basis of very limited number of sequences. Joshi and colleagues got the generally assumption that the consensus sequence found (aaaaacaA(A/C)aAUGG) is valid for all plant clades, but Rangan found out that a considerable degree of variation between plants and major between the major eukaryotic groups along with some conserved features. However, the large variability and the periodicity suggest that general structural features rather than precise nucleotide sequence may play an important role in transcription initial site. (Rangan, 2008)

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
• 21
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]

References

Rangan, et al. (2008). Analysis of Context Sequence Surrounding Translation Initiation Site from Complete Genome of Model Plants. New York University. [Online] Retrieved october 14th 2014 from: http://www.nyu.edu/projects/vogel/Reprints/Rangan_MolBt08.pdf

Nakagawa, et al. (2007). Diversity of preferred nucleotide sequences around the translation initiation codon in eukaryote genomes. Oxford University Press. [Online] Retrieved october 14th 2014 from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2241899/

Liu Q, Xue Q. (2005). Comparative studies on sequence characteristics around translation initiation codon in four eukaryotes. Zhejiang University. [Online] Retrieved october 14th 2014 from: http://www.ias.ac.in/jgenet/Vol84No3/317.pdf

Kozak, M. (1989). Circumstances and mechanisms of inhibition of translation by secondary structure in eucaryotic mRNAs. American Society for Microbiology (ASM). [Online] retrieved october 14th 2014 from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC363665/