What is the predominant amino acid that corresponds to the AUG codon in eukaryotes?

The amino acid that corresponds to the AUG codon in eukaryotes is Methionine. This is because AUG is recognized as the start codon during the process of translation. It not only signals the beginning of the protein synthesis but also codes specifically for Methionine, which is always the first amino acid in nascent polypeptide chains in eukaryotic cells.

In addition to functioning as the initiation signal for protein synthesis, Methionine can also be incorporated into the polypeptide chains at internal positions, although in many cases it is later modified or removed. The unique role of Methionine as the start codon is a critical aspect of genetic translation in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes, contributing to the universality of this mechanism across different life forms. Understanding the significance of codon- amino acid relationships is essential in molecular biology and genetics.