INITIATOR CODON Meaning and
Definition
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The "initiator codon" is defined as the specific codon that signals the start of protein synthesis in the process of translation. It is also known as the start codon or the initiation codon. In the universal genetic code, there is only one initiator codon which is AUG (adenine-uracil-guanine), and it codes for the amino acid methionine (Met).
The initiator codon serves as a signal for the ribosomes, the cellular machinery responsible for protein synthesis, to assemble and begin the process of translation. It marks the position at which the ribosome attaches to the messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule and starts reading the genetic code. Once the ribosome recognizes the initiator codon, it recruits additional components such as tRNA (transfer RNA) and initiation factors, forming the translation initiation complex.
The choice of AUG as the initiator codon is not solely due to its coding of methionine; it also serves as a recognition site for specific initiation factors involved in the initiation process. In certain cases, alternative initiation codons such as GUG or UUG can also be utilized in specific circumstances, leading to the incorporation of different amino acids at the start of the protein.
In summary, the initiator codon is a specific sequence of nucleotides within the mRNA molecule that signals the ribosome to initiate protein synthesis, determining the starting point for the translation process.
Common Misspellings for INITIATOR CODON
- unitiator codon
- jnitiator codon
- knitiator codon
- onitiator codon
- 9nitiator codon
- 8nitiator codon
- ibitiator codon
- imitiator codon
- ijitiator codon
- ihitiator codon
- inutiator codon
- injtiator codon
- inktiator codon
- inotiator codon
- in9tiator codon
- in8tiator codon
- iniriator codon
- inifiator codon
- inigiator codon
- iniyiator codon
Etymology of INITIATOR CODON
The etymology of the term "Initiator Codon" can be broken down as follows:
1. Initiator: The word "initiator" comes from the Latin word "initiare", which means "begin", "commence", or "initiate". It derives from the noun "initium", meaning "entrance" or "beginning".
2. Codon: The term "codon" is a combination of "code" and "on". "Code" refers to the set of instructions or information, and "on" emphasizes that it is a unit or entity. The term "codon" was coined in 1960 as a short form of "nucleotide codeword".
Therefore, "Initiator Codon" refers to the specific codon that initiates or begins the process of protein synthesis during translation in molecular biology.
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