I was looking at this transcript of a DNA sequence, and the article kept referencing what the first codons are, but a codon like AUG isn't in the sequence...there's no "U" in any sequence. What am I missing?
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
2
-
$\begingroup$ In DNA, the first codon would be "ATG" $\endgroup$– swbarnes2Commented Oct 9, 2017 at 18:00
-
$\begingroup$ as far as i know genomics, you can align your transcripts (mRNA) to your peptide, as well as align mRNA to genome and cDNA, to detect first codon. Also, starting sites are conserved and have canonical sequences (on average) $\endgroup$– aaaaa says reinstate MonicaCommented Nov 8, 2017 at 9:24
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
1
Codons refer to sequences of nucleotide triplets that translate to amino acids. As you know, polypeptides are translated at the ribosome using a messenger RNA (mRNA) blueprint produced by RNA polymerases from the DNA.
DNA consists of four nucleotides: adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine. Thus, DNA sequences read, for example, ATAAGC. RNA, however, replaces thymine with uracil. So to transcribe the above DNA nucleotide sequence into mRNA would result in UAUUCG.
The mRNA may also get spliced into various isoforms coming from the same gene. In short, it may be difficult to determine the gene product from the DNA sequence.
Does that make sense?
-
1$\begingroup$ There are also start codons other than AUG. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 8, 2017 at 4:52