title: The psbC start codon in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
abstract: The translation start codon for psbC, the gene encoding CP43, a chlorophyll-binding protein of photosystem II, has been identified for the cyanobacterium Synechosystis sp. PCC 6803 using site-directed mutagenesis. An AUG codon, about 50 bases upstream from the end of psbD-I had previously been assumed to be the translation start site of psbC. However, the fact that the AUG codon is not present in psbC from several other organisms, whereas a GUG codon 14 bases upstream from the end of psbD-I is strictly conserved suggests that CP43 translation starts at the latter codon. Mutation of GUG, but not of AUG, led to a loss of CP43 and photoautotrophic growth, indicating that the GUG codon is the sole initiation site for translation of the CP43 protein in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-1601.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charite
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eggers
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Vermaas
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003062:Codon / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002734:Chlorophyll