CTG-Initiated Cryptic Peptide Translation Up- and Downstream of a Canonical ATG Start Codon Is Enhanced by TLR Stimulation and Induces Tumor Regression in Mice.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes screen cells for signs of infection and transformation by recognizing peptides displayed on MHC class I molecules. Next to canonical ATG-initiated open reading frames (ORF), noncanonical translation can result in synthesis of nonconventional or "cryptic" polypeptides. These can originate from translation initiation at noncanonical start codons, a process previously associated with inflammation and oncogenic transformation.