Abstract
The ndhK gene encodes a subunit of the chloroplast NADH dehydrogenase, and is co-transcribed with the adjacent ndhC and J genes on the tobacco chloroplast genome. The ndhK gene product is translated by polycistronic mRNAs but not by monocistronic ones. The ndhK mRNA contains four possible AUG start codons, three of which are within the upstream ndhC coding region. Based on in vitro translation analyses, we report that the major initiation site in tobacco chloroplast ndhK mRNAs is the third AUG codon within the upstream ndhC coding region, ndhK overlapping partly with ndhC. Detailed analysis of translation initiation of the ndhK coding region is reported.
