The carboxysome protein CsoS2 is produced as two isoforms, each with an unknown role in the assembly of α-carboxysomes.
We show that a − 1 programmed ribosomal frameshift is responsible for the production of CsoS2A.
We express CsoS2A and CsoS2B individually for the first time.
We conclude that only CsoS2B is necessary and sufficient for the structural formation of carboxysomes.