Leaky scanning translation model blog pdf article. Find more on our blog www.neobiolab.com/research. Contact us for more information.

1. Leaky Scanning Translation Model
SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 BY ADMIN (EDIT)
Leaky scanning provides a model for the observation that one mRNA is capable of producing
two proteins, as seen in the HIV virus, which employs this mechanism to produce many
required proteins. The first AUG is ‘sometimes’ bypassed by the 40S ribosomal subunit and
initiation occurs at the second initiation codon. Therefore, two reading frames, distinguished
by whether the initial segment, between the first and second AUG codons is read or not,
depicts the resulting protein (Kozak 1999).
Possible explanations for this occurrence, is the absence of a strong promoting context
around the initial AUG codon (Kozak 1991a). The observation of a train of elongating
ribosomes progressing along an mRNA, in the 5 to 3 direction, would be able to physically′ ′
bloc access to any downstream site, greatly reducing the validity of the leaky model.
However, initiation at the second codon could be facilitated by the presence of the first AUG
codon near the 5 end of the transcript, thereby being too close to become recognized′
efficiently (Kozak, 1995).
CUG, ACG or GUG, in a good surrounding context, are known to be capable of operating as
initiation codons during leaky scanning. This observation can only occur when these codons
are present upstream of the first AUG, as they are not capable of substituting as the sole start
site (Kozak, 1991a). This results due to the presence of weak pairing between non-AUG
codons in good context and Met-tRNA. Leaky scanning may be used to produce two proteins
as mentioned above or may be a means of further regulating protein production (Kozak
1999).
Reinitiation of Peptide and Protein Synthesis is the next article in our research series on
peptide and protein synthesis.
Click here to view the references and sources related to these essays.

2. Click here for more information about our custom peptide synthesis services