The Thosea asigna virus 2A-like self-processing peptide is commonly used in genetic engineering to achieve polycistronic expression (expression of multiple proteins from a single mRNA transcript) at defined stoichiometries. The peptide is associated with the capsid precursor protein. Upon translation, ribosome skipping occurs and thus peptide bonds fail to form. When used as a spacer between protein coding sequences, individual proteins can then be separated from each other following translation. This peptide sequence has been used in different eukaryotic systems (animals, plants). Several viral species that infect a broad range of eukaryotic hosts also encode peptide sequences with similar functionalities (2A peptide system).