Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Leaky Scanning

Leaky Scanning

During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA. Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...

Initiation of Translation

Initiation of Translation

Initiating translation is complex because it involves multiple molecules. Initiator tRNA, ribosomal subunits, and eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) are all required to assemble on the initiation codon of mRNA. This process consists of several steps that are mediated by different eIFs.
First, the initiator tRNA must be selected from the pool of elongator tRNAs by eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). The initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAi) has conserved sequence elements including modified bases at...

Improving Translational Accuracy

Improving Translational Accuracy

Translation

Translation

Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
Proteins are...

Ribosome Profiling

Ribosome Profiling

Ribosome profiling or ribo-sequencing is a deep sequencing technique that produces a snapshot of active translation in a cell. It selectively sequences the mRNAs protected by ribosomes to get an insight into a cell’s translation landscape at any given point in time.
Applications of ribosome profiling
Ribosome profiling has many applications, including in vivo monitoring of translation inside a particular organ or tissue type and quantifying new protein synthesis levels.
The technique...

Comparing Copy Number Variations and SNPs

Comparing Copy Number Variations and SNPs

Sequencing of the human genome has opened up several best-kept secrets of the genome. Scientists have identified thousands of genome variations that exist within a population. These variations can be a single nucleotide or a larger chromosomal variation.
Copy number variations or CNVs are the structural variations that cover more than 1kb of DNA sequence. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), on the other hand, is a single nucleotide change or a point mutation that is found in more than 1%...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Global vaccination coverage and disease incidence in cattle, pigs, and poultry.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Same author

Translation of dipeptide repeat proteins in <i>C9ORF72</i> ALS/FTD through unique and redundant AUG initiation codons.

eLife·2023

Same author

Machine learning predicts translation initiation sites in neurologic diseases with nucleotide repeat expansions.

PloS one·2022

Same author

A C. elegans model of C9orf72-associated ALS/FTD uncovers a conserved role for eIF2D in RAN translation.

Nature communications·2021

Same author

RNA-binding protein altered expression and mislocalization in MS.

Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation·2020

Same author

Knockdown of GADD34 in neonatal mutant SOD1 mice ameliorates ALS.

Neurobiology of disease·2019

Same journal

RETRACTED: Kim et al. The Angiogenesis Inhibitor ALS-L1023 from Lemon-Balm Leaves Attenuates High-Fat Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Through Regulating the Visceral Adipose-Tissue Function. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci.</i> 2017, <i>18</i>, 846.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Same journal

Correction: Mahmud et al. Thymoquinone Attenuates NF-κβ Signalling Activation in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells Under AMD-Mimicking Conditions. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci.</i> 2025, <i>26</i>, 11473.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Same journal

Correction: Borovikov et al. The Twisting and Untwisting of Actin and Tropomyosin Filaments Are Involved in the Molecular Mechanisms of Muscle Contraction, and Their Disruption Can Result in Muscle Disorders. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci</i>. 2025, <i>26</i>, 6705.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Same journal

Correction: Molagoda et al. Flavonoid Glycosides from <i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> var. <i>inermis</i> (Bunge) Rehder Seeds Inhibit α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone-Mediated Melanogenesis. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci.</i> 2021, <i>22</i>, 7701.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Same journal

Correction: Guo et al. Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Maize Roots Under Lead Stress. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci.</i> 2024, <i>25</i>, 6050.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Same journal

Correction: Chang et al. Improvement of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Hepatic Failure by Transplantation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Without Reprogramming Factor c-Myc. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci.</i> 2012, <i>13</i>, 3598-3617.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 28, 2025

De novo Identification of Actively Translated Open Reading Frames with Ribosome Profiling Data

De novo Identification of Actively Translated Open Reading Frames with Ribosome Profiling Data

Published on: February 18, 2022

Kozak Similarity Score Algorithm Identifies Alternative Translation Initiation Codons Implicated in Cancers.

Alec C Gleason¹, Ghanashyam Ghadge¹, Yoshifumi Sonobe¹

¹Department of Neurology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

|September 23, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Noncanonical translation initiation codons (TICs) upstream of main sites are often found in cancer-associated genes. These TICs, particularly in longer 5' untranslated regions (5'UTRs), can initiate the translation of oncogenic proteins.

Keywords:

cancer canonical and noncanonical translation initiation codons oncogene oncogenesis protein translation translation initiation tumorigenesis

More Related Videos

Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale

Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale

Published on: May 17, 2014

Removal of an Internal Translational Start Site from mRNA While Retaining Expression of the Full-Length Protein

Removal of an Internal Translational Start Site from mRNA While Retaining Expression of the Full-Length Protein

Published on: March 16, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 28, 2025

De novo Identification of Actively Translated Open Reading Frames with Ribosome Profiling Data

De novo Identification of Actively Translated Open Reading Frames with Ribosome Profiling Data

Published on: February 18, 2022

Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale

Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale

Published on: May 17, 2014

Removal of an Internal Translational Start Site from mRNA While Retaining Expression of the Full-Length Protein

Removal of an Internal Translational Start Site from mRNA While Retaining Expression of the Full-Length Protein

Published on: March 16, 2022

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Cancer Research

Background:

Canonical and noncanonical translation initiation codons (TICs) upstream of main sites are implicated in oncogenic protein translation.
Previous studies reported conflicting data on nucleotide patterns surrounding noncanonical TICs.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the nucleotide sequences flanking noncanonical TICs.
To explore the relationship between 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) length and the utilization of upstream TICs in cancer-associated genes.

Main Methods:

Utilized ribosome profiling and mass spectroscopy to identify TICs.
Developed and applied a Kozak Similarity Score algorithm to analyze flanking nucleotide sequences.
Compared 5'UTR lengths of cancer-associated genes with upstream TICs to control genes.

Main Results:

Nearly all noncanonical TICs exhibit flanking nucleotides closely matching the Kozak sequence.
Flanking nucleotides of alternative noncanonical TICs often resemble the Kozak sequence more than those of canonical TICs.
Cancer-associated genes with upstream TICs possess significantly longer 5'UTRs compared to genes without upstream TICs.

Conclusions:

The Kozak sequence context favors the utilization of noncanonical TICs, even those in the 5'UTR.
Longer 5'UTRs may promote ribosome binding to upstream noncanonical TICs, contributing to oncogenic protein overexpression in cancer.
Noncanonical TICs, previously considered disadvantageous, may play a crucial role in cancer development by translating oncogenic proteins.