Leaky scanning

Mechanism in eukaryotic translation

Leaky scanning is a mechanism used during the initiation phase of eukaryotic translation that enables regulation of gene expression. During initiation, the small 40S ribosomal subunit "scans" or moves in a 5' --> 3' direction along the 5'UTR to locate a start codon to commence elongation. Sometimes, the scanning ribosome bypasses the initial AUG start codon and begins translation at further downstream AUG start codons. Translation in eukaryotic cells according to most scanning mechanisms occurs at the AUG start codon proximal to the 5' end of mRNA; however, the scanning ribosome may encounter an “unfavorable nucleotide context” around the start codon and continue scanning.

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