Kozak sequence gene transcriptions
The Kozak sequence is a nucleic acid motif that functions as the protein translation initiation site in most eukaryotic mRNA transcripts. Regarded as the optimum sequence for initiating translation in eukaryotes, the sequence is an integral aspect of protein regulation and overall cellular health as well as having implications in human disease.
A wrong start site can result in non-functional proteins.
As it has become more studied, expansions of the nucleotide sequence, bases of importance, and notable exceptions have arisen.
The sequence was discovered through a detailed analysis of DNA genomic sequences.
The Kozak Sequence was determined by sequencing of 699 vertebrate mRNAs and verified by site-directed mutagenesis. While initially limited to a subset of vertebrates (i.e. human, cow, cat, dog, chicken, guinea pig, hamster, mouse, pig, rabbit, sheep, and Xenopus), subsequent studies confirmed its conservation in higher eukaryotes generally. The sequence was defined as 5'-(gcc)gccRccATGG-3' IUPAC nucleobase notation.

# Human genes

# Consensus sequences
Kozak consensus sequence is GAAAATGG.
Consensus sequence for the Kozak is 5'-(GCC)GCC(A/G)CCATGG-3'.

# (Kozak) samplings
Copying an apparent consensus sequence for the Kozak sequence of (GCC)GCC(A/G)CCATGG or GCCACCAT and putting it in "F" finds none located between ZSCAN22 and A1BG and none between ZNF497 and A1BG as can be found by the computer programs.
For the Basic programs testing consensus sequence GCCGCC(A/G)CCATGG (starting with SuccessablesKoz.bas) written to compare nucleotide sequences with the sequences on either the template strand (-), or coding strand (+), of the DNA, in the negative direction (-), or the positive direction (+), the programs are, are looking for, and found:
- negative strand, negative direction, looking for GCCGCC(A/G)CCATGG, 0.
- positive strand, negative direction, looking for GCCGCC(A/G)CCATGG, 0.
- positive strand, positive direction, looking for GCCGCC(A/G)CCATGG, 0.
- negative strand, positive direction, looking for GCCGCC(A/G)CCATGG, 0.
- complement, negative strand, negative direction, looking for CGGCGG(C/T)GGTACC, 0.
- complement, positive strand, negative direction, looking for CGGCGG(C/T)GGTACC, 0.
- complement, positive strand, positive direction, looking for CGGCGG(C/T)GGTACC, 0.
- complement, negative strand, positive direction, looking for CGGCGG(C/T)GGTACC, 0.
- inverse complement, negative strand, negative direction, looking for CCATGG(C/T)GGCGGC, 0.
- inverse complement, positive strand, negative direction, looking for CCATGG(C/T)GGCGGC, 0.
- inverse complement, positive strand, positive direction, looking for CCATGG(C/T)GGCGGC, 0.
- inverse complement, negative strand, positive direction, looking for CCATGG(C/T)GGCGGC, 0.
- inverse positive strand, negative direction, looking for GGTACC(A/G)CCGCCG, 0.
- inverse negative strand, negative direction, looking for GGTACC(A/G)CCGCCG, 0.
- inverse positive strand, positive direction, looking for GGTACC(A/G)CCGCCG, 0.
- inverse negative strand, positive direction, looking for GGTACC(A/G)CCGCCG, 0.

# (Matsumoto) samplings
Copying an apparent consensus sequence for the Kozak sequence of GAAAATGG and putting it in "F" finds none located between ZSCAN22 and A1BG and none between ZNF497 and A1BG as can be found by the computer programs.
For the Basic programs testing consensus sequence GAAAATGG (starting with SuccessablesKozM.bas) written to compare nucleotide sequences with the sequences on either the template strand (-), or coding strand (+), of the DNA, in the negative direction (-), or the positive direction (+), the programs are, are looking for, and found:
- negative strand, negative direction, looking for GAAAATGG, 0.
- positive strand, negative direction, looking for GAAAATGG, 0.
- positive strand, positive direction, looking for GAAAATGG, 0.
- negative strand, positive direction, looking for GAAAATGG, 0.
- complement, negative strand, negative direction, looking for CTTTTACC, 0.
- complement, positive strand, negative direction, looking for CTTTTACC, 0.
- complement, positive strand, positive direction, looking for CTTTTACC, 0.
- complement, negative strand, positive direction, looking for CTTTTACC, 0.
- inverse complement, negative strand, negative direction, looking for CCATTTTC, 0.
- inverse complement, positive strand, negative direction, looking for CCATTTTC, 0.
- inverse complement, positive strand, positive direction, looking for CCATTTTC, 0.
- inverse complement, negative strand, positive direction, looking for CCATTTTC, 0.
- inverse negative strand, negative direction, looking for GGTAAAAG, 0.
- inverse positive strand, negative direction, looking for GGTAAAAG, 0.
- inverse positive strand, positive direction, looking for GGTAAAAG, 0.
- inverse negative strand, positive direction, looking for GGTAAAAG, 0.

# Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by: Henry A. Hoff.