FEBS Letters
Volume 582, Issue 9 , Pages 1293-1297, 16 April 2008

uORFs, reinitiation and alternative translation start sites in human mRNAs

Edited by Lev Kisselev

  • Alex V. Kochetov

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Lavrentieva Avenue 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
    • Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Lavrentieva Avenue 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia. Fax: +7 383 3331278.
    • ,
  • Shandar Ahmad

      Affiliations

    • National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, 7-6-8, Saito Asagi, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0085, Japan
    • ,
  • Vladimir Ivanisenko

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Lavrentieva Avenue 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
    • ,
  • Oxana A. Volkova

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Lavrentieva Avenue 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
    • ,
  • Nikolay A. Kolchanov

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Lavrentieva Avenue 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
    • Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
    • ,
  • Akinori Sarai

      Affiliations

    • Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka 820-8502, Japan

Received 17 February 2008; received in revised form 11 March 2008; accepted 12 March 2008. published online 20 March 2008.

Abstract 

It is known that eukaryotic ribosomes are able to translate small ORFs and reinitiate translation at downstream start codons. However, this mechanism is widely considered to be inefficient and it is not commonly taken into account. We compiled a sample of human mRNAs containing small upstream ORFs overlapping with annotated protein coding sequences. Statistical analysis supported the hypothesis on reinitiation of translation at downstream AUG codons and functional significance of potential alternative ORFs. It may be assumed that some 5′UTR-located upstream ORFs can deliver ribosomes to alternative translation starts, and they should be taken into consideration in the prediction of human mRNA coding potential.

Keywords: Eukaryotic mRNA, Reinitiation, Upstream ORF, Protein isoforms, Translational control

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0014-5793(08)00243-3

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2008.03.014

FEBS Letters
Volume 582, Issue 9 , Pages 1293-1297, 16 April 2008

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution