Analysis of Genomic G + C Content, Codon Usage, Initiator Codon Context and Translation Termination Sites In Tetrahymena Thermophila

ABSTRACT. In recent years, the amount of molecular sequencing data from Tetrahymena thermophila has dramatically increased. We analyzed G + C content, codon usage, initiator codon context and stop codon sites in the extremely A + T rich genome of this ciliate. Average G + C content was 38% for protein coding regions. 21% for 5′ non‐coding sequences, 19% for 3′ non‐coding sequences, 15% for introns, 19% for micronuclear limited sequences and 17% for macronuclear retained sequences flanking micronuclear specific regions. the 75 available T. thermophila protein coding sequences favored codons ending in T and, where possible, avoided those with G in the third position. Highly expressed genes were relatively G + C‐rich and exhibited an extremely biased pattern of codon usage while developmentally regulated genes were more A + T‐rich and showed less codon usage bias. Regions immediately preceding Tetrahymena translation initiator codons were generally A‐rich. For the 60 stop codons examined, the frequency of G in the end + 1 site was much higher than expected whereas C never occupied this position.

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