The Shine-Dalgarno Sequence is the signal for initiation of protein synthesis in bacterial mRNA. It is located 5' of the first coding AUG, and consists primarily, but not exclusively, of purines. The complementary sequence, rich in pyrimidines, is called the Anti-Shine-Dalgarno Sequence and is located at the 3' end of the 16S rRNA in the ribosome.

Mutations in the Shine-Dalgarno Sequence are known to reduce translation, however the mutation can be reversed by complementary mutations in the Anti-Shine-Dalgarno Sequence. IF3-GTP, IF1, IF3, all of which are Initiation Factors and fMet-tRNA(fMET) are placed on the ribosome when the Shine-Dalgarno Sequence and the Anti-Shine-Dalgarno Sequence are mated on the ribosome.

References

• Shine J and Dalgarno L. Determinant of cistron specificity in bacterial ribosomes. Nature. 1975 Mar 6;254(5495):34-38.

• Voet D and Voet J. 2004 BIOCHEMISTRY. 3rd Edition. John Wiley and Sons Inc: pp.1321-2 and pp.1342-3