Back to Search
Start Over
Reflections on the Origin and Early Evolution of the Genetic Code.
- Source :
-
Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology [Chembiochem] 2023 May 16; Vol. 24 (10), pp. e202300048. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Apr 13. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Examination of the genetic code (GeCo) reveals that amino acids coded by (A/U) codons display a large functional spectrum and bind RNA whereas, except for Arg, those coded by (G/C) codons do not. From a stereochemical viewpoint, the clear preference for (A/U)-rich codons to be located at the GeCo half blocks suggests they were specifically determined. Conversely, the overall lower affinity of cognate amino acids for their (G/C)-rich anticodons points to their late arrival to the GeCo. It is proposed that i) initially the code was composed of the eight (A/U) codons; ii) these codons were duplicated when G/C nucleotides were added to their wobble positions, and three new codons with G/C in their first position were incorporated; and iii) a combination of A/U and G/C nucleotides progressively generated the remaining codons.<br /> (© 2023 The Authors. ChemBioChem published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1439-7633
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 37052530
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202300048