AltORFev facilitates the prediction of alternative open reading frames in eukaryotic mRNAs

Abstract

Motivation: Protein synthesis is not a straight forward process and one gene locus can produce many isoforms, for example, by starting mRNA translation from alternative start sites. altORF evaluator (altORFev) predicts alternative open reading frames within eukaryotic mRNA translated by a linear scanning mechanism and its modifications (leaky scanning and reinitiation). The program reveals the efficiently translated altORFs recognized by the majority of 40S ribosomal subunits landing on the 50-end of an mRNA. This information aids to reveal the functions of eukaryotic genes connected to synthesis of either unknown isoforms of annotated proteins or new unrelated polypeptides.