Kozak consensus sequence
Kozak Consensus Sequence
The Kozak consensus sequence (/koʊˈzæk/; named after Marilyn Kozak, the scientist who discovered it) is a sequence of nucleotides in mRNA that is recognized by the ribosome during the initiation of protein synthesis.
Etymology
The term "Kozak consensus sequence" is derived from the name of the scientist Marilyn Kozak, who first identified and studied this sequence in the 1980s. The term "consensus sequence" refers to the most common sequence of nucleotides found at a specific location in DNA or RNA.
Definition
The Kozak consensus sequence is a specific sequence of nucleotides in mRNA that is recognized by the ribosome during the initiation of protein synthesis. This sequence is crucial for the accurate initiation of translation, as it helps to position the ribosome correctly on the mRNA.
The sequence is typically represented as (gcc)gccRccAUGG, where R represents a purine (adenine (A) or guanine (G)), and the AUG codon is the start codon for translation. The nucleotides in parentheses are often present, but not always.
Related Terms
- Marilyn Kozak: The scientist who discovered the Kozak consensus sequence.
- mRNA: Messenger RNA, the type of RNA that carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.
- Ribosome: The cellular machinery that synthesizes proteins.
- Protein Synthesis: The process by which proteins are produced in cells.
- Translation (biology): The process by which the genetic information in mRNA is used to produce a protein.
- Codon: A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid or a stop signal in protein synthesis.
- Purine: A type of nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA, represented by the letters A and G in the genetic code.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Kozak consensus sequence
- Wikipedia's article - Kozak consensus sequence
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