The scanning model for translation: an update.
The small (40S) subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes is believed to bind initially at the capped 5'-end of messenger RNA and then migrate, stopping at the first AUG codon in a favorable context for initiating translation. The first-AUG rule is not absolute, but there are rules for breaking the rule. Some anomalous observations that seemed to contradict the scanning mechanism now appear to be artifacts. A few genuine anomalies remain unexplained.
Kozak
M
M
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260.
D000818:Animals; D003062:Codon; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012346:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl / Q000378:metabolism; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism
D003062:Codon; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012346:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl; C026464:tRNA(m)(Met), methionine-