This project studies alternative translation initiation (ATI) as a source of protein diversity without the need for genetic changes. The Central Dogma of Biology assumes that genetic information is transmitted with high fidelity, but in reality errors affect up to 15–20% of proteins. These errors generate variations that expand proteome diversity.
ATI is an example of this process. It consists of initiating translation at internal codons, producing shorter versions of proteins that can acquire new properties. It has recently been demonstrated that ATI is very frequent in bacteria, although its role is still not well understood.
Our hypothesis is that ATI drives protein innovation and adaptation. To investigate this, we will identify the sequences that control this mechanism, study its evolution, analyze the function of proteins generated by ATI, and develop new applications in synthetic biology.