title: Multiple roles of the coding sequence 5' end in gene expression regulation.
abstract: The codon composition of the coding sequence's (ORF) 5' end first few dozen codons is known to be distinct to that of the rest of the ORF. Various explanations for the unusual codon distribution in this region have been proposed in recent years, and include, among others, novel regulatory mechanisms of translation initiation and elongation. However, due to the fact that many overlapping regulatory signals are suggested to be associated with this relatively short region, its research is challenging. Here, we review the currently known signals that appear in this region, the theories related to the way they regulate translation and affect the organismal fitness, and the debates they provoke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Engineering Faculty, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel tamirtul@post.tau.ac.il.
authors.forename: Tamir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuller
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Engineering Faculty, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Hadas
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zur
mesh_terms: D003062:Codon; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010442:Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D059370:RNA Folding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000378:metabolism; D038621:Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D038621:Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid; D012343:RNA, Transfer