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. 2008 Dec 1;586(Pt 23):5605–5606. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.165019

Figure 1. Alternative translation initiation of TREK-2.

Figure 1

Usually, the start codon is flanked by a Kozak consensus sequence with the third nucleotide base (–3) upstream of AUG being a purine (A or G) and a guanine right after the AUG (+ 4) (initiation site 2). In this case, translation initiation starts at the first cap-proximal AUG, but if the first AUG is within a weak Kozak consensus sequence as shown for TREK-2, the ribosome might read through and continue scanning the mRNA until it finds the next AUG to initiate translation of a shorter isoform (54 kDa instead of 60 kDa). Other yet unknown factors and/or sequences near the start codon may also regulate ATI. The short TREK-2 isoforms (initiated at methionine 55 or 67) are characterized by a larger single channel conductance.