Elsevier, Plant Science, 1(154), p. 89-98
DOI: 10.1016/s0168-9452(00)00195-3
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Statistical analysis of the AUG initiation codon context in several plant organisms identified a nucleotide preference in some positions around the AUG. Sixteen AUG contexts were studied using transient expression in tobacco, maize and Norway spruce. Besides the importance of A or G at position -3, we revealed the role of positions -2, -1 for which AA or CC were found to be the best for tobacco and maize, respectively. GC (positions +4, +5) were also found to be important in both tobacco and maize. Finally, we identified a variation in context efficiency according to cell type, since A was better than G at position -3 in tobacco leaf protoplasts, while both nucleotides were equally efficient in tobacco suspension cells.