Abstract: Provided are methods for calculating codon pair translational kinetics values, creating a synthetic gene for expression in a host organism, and providing codon pair translational kinetic values. The methods typically are directed to refinement of statistical observed versus expected codon pair frequencies using one of several factors such as amino acid sequence homology, secondary or tertiary structural considerations, and empirical measurements. In some synthetic genes codon pairs are predicted not to cause a translational pause in the host organism, thereby providing a polynucleotide sequence encoding the desired polypeptide with desired translational kinetics properties. The methods can be performed using multiple parameter nucleotide sequence optimization methods, such as branch-and-bound methods for nucleotide sequence refinement.