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start codon

The start codon is the first codon of a messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript translated by a ribosome. Start codon can also be regarded as a group of three adjacent nucleotides, ATG (AUG in mRNA) coding for Methionine (formylated Methionine in bacteria) that initiates polypeptide formation.

To be more specific, the meaning of start codon is a genetic codon in messenger RNA that stimulates the binding of a transfer RNA which starts protein synthesis. The standard start codon for gene translation is “AUG,” which encodes the amino acid methionine (Met or M) and establishes the reading frame for the ribosome to follow, adding corresponding amino acids in a polypeptide chain.

Variants in the start codon that alter the ATG sequence, block translation initiation, and usually have serious consequences. When the ATG is affected, initiation may move to another initiation site, either up- or downstream. The translation product may be (partially) functional only when that site is in frame with the typical protein sequence.

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