title: Non-AUG translation initiation of mRNA encoding acidic ribosomal P2A protein in Candida albicans.
abstract: The eukaryotic 60S ribosomal subunit has a set of very acidic proteins (P-proteins), which form a distinct lateral protuberance called the stalk structure. This protein complex is directly involved in the elongation step of polypeptide synthesis. In our study on acidic ribosomal P-proteins from the human opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans, we isolated and characterized one of the genes, called CARP2A, and its product, the P2A protein. The CARP2A gene is intron-less, present in a single copy per haploid genome, and transcriptionally active. The open reading frame of the studied gene contains information for a sequence of 108 amino acids. Based on this, the molecular mass and isoelectric point of the P2A protein were theoretically calculated to be 10.85 kDa and 3.7, respectively. The characteristic feature of the CARP2A gene transcript is the presence of a GUG start codon, which is rare in eukaryotic organisms and not previously reported in yeast. To our knowledge this is the first report showing the presence of a naturally occurring non-AUG start codon on mRNA in yeast species.
authors.affiliation: Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology, Akademicka Street 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abramczyk
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tchórzewski
authors.forename: Nikodem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grankowski
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018387:Codon, Initiator / Q000235:genetics*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018387:Codon, Initiator; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; C031937:phosphoprotein P2, ribosomal