Statistical analysis of the relationship between translation initiation AUG context and gene expression level in humans

The preference for the optimal nucleotide of the mammalian translation initiation AUG context [GCCGCC(A/G)CCaugG] is generally more pronounced in the highly expressed genes than in the transcription factor genes at the - 9 through - 1 positions in humans. The influence of amino acid preference on the nucleotide choice at the + 4 position was also examined.