This codon is almost always AUG, which corresponds to the amino acid methionine. Next, the specific tRNA molecule that carries methionine recognizes this codon and binds to it (Figure 5).

Methionine is not produced by the body, and must be consumed through diet—the molecule is found in foods like shrimp, eggs and beef. "We were just intrigued," he says. "If something is this high ...

In particular, there is an area near the 5' end of the molecule that is known as the ... This preinitiation complex and a methionine-carrying tRNA then bind to the mRNA, near the AUG start codon ...