Protein Translation
Translate a DNA or RNA coding sequence into protein using the standard genetic code. Choose a reading frame and, if you like, stop at the first stop codon. FASTA input is accepted and U is read as T.
Paste a coding sequence above to translate it.
How it works
The genetic code reads a nucleotide sequence three bases at a time. Each triplet, or codon, specifies one amino acid, and three of the 64 codons signal the end of translation. This tool splits your sequence into codons starting at the chosen reading frame and looks each one up in the standard genetic code (NCBI table 1), writing the amino acids as single-letter codes and stop codons as an asterisk.
Because a sequence can be read in three forward frames depending on where you start, pick the frame that begins at the real start codon (usually ATG). Turn on “stop at first stop codon” to translate only the open reading frame up to its terminator. Uracil in RNA is treated as thymine, and FASTA headers, spaces and numbers are ignored.
Examples
- ATGGCC → M A (Met-Ala).
- ATG TTT TAA → M F * (a short open reading frame ending in a stop).
- Shifting to frame +2 of AATGGCC reads ATG GCC → M A.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a reading frame?
- A reading frame is where you start grouping bases into triplets. A sequence has three possible forward frames (starting at position 1, 2 or 3), and the correct one begins at the start codon.
- Which genetic code is used?
- The standard genetic code (NCBI translation table 1), which applies to most nuclear genes. Organelle and some organism-specific codes differ for a few codons.
- What does the asterisk mean?
- An asterisk marks a stop codon (TAA, TAG or TGA), which terminates translation. Enable “stop at first stop codon” to end the protein there.
- Does it translate RNA?
- Yes. Uracil (U) is read as thymine (T), so an mRNA sequence translates to the same protein as its DNA.