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Genetic code: an alternative model of translation.

Our earlier studies of translation have led us to a specific numeric coding of nucleotides (A = 0, C = 1, G = 2, and U = 3)--that is, a quaternary numeric system; to ordering of digrams and codons (read right to left: .yx and Z.yx) as ordinal numbers from 000 to 111; and to seek hypothetic transformation of mRNA to 20 canonic amino acids. In this work, we show that amino acids match the ordinal number--that is, follow as transforms of their respective digrams and/or mRNA-codons. Sixteen digrams and their respective amino acids appear as a parallel (discrete) array. A first approximation of translation in this view is demonstrated by a "twisted" spiral on the side of "phantom" codons and by ordering amino acids in the form of a cross on the other side, whereby the transformation of digrams and/or phantom codons to amino acids appears to be one-to-one! Classification of canonical amino acids derived from our dynamic model clarifies physicochemical criteria, such as purinity, pyrimidinity, and particularly codon rules. The system implies both the rules of Siemion and Siemion and of Davidov, as well as balances of atomic and nucleon numbers within groups of amino acids. Formalization in this system offers the possibility of extrapolating backward to the initial organization of heredity.

Amino Acids↗

Messenger RNA editing and the genetic code.

Messenger RNA editing is defined as a process leading to predetermined modifications of the coding region of a primary gene transcript. By this definition, splicing processes are special forms of editing; however, they are not dealt with in this review. Editing processes different from splicing have been defined in mammalian cells, in RNA viruses, and in mitochondria of trypanosomes, higher plants and vertebrates. These post- or co-transcriptional processes involve addition, deletion, or modification-substitution of nucleotides, and represent previously unrecognized mechanisms for altering the coding potential of a gene and for modulating gene expression.

Animals↗

Evolution of the genome and the genetic code: selection at the dinucleotide level by methylation and polyribonucleotide cleavage.

Noting the scarcity of CpG dinucleotide in total genomic DNA derived from higher organisms and the scarcity of TpA dinucleotide in total genomic DNA derived from most life forms, we examined the distribution of these dinucleotides in sequences derived from functionally distinct types of human DNA, including mitochondrial DNA, intergenic DNA, intron DNA, and DNA destined to be represented in the cytoplasm as mRNA, tRNA, or rRNA. While CpG frequency has fallen to its lowest levels in DNA that is transcriptionally silent, TpA is most stringently excluded in DNA destined to be expressed as mRNA in the cytosol. This observation suggests that the selective pressures leading to the removal of CpG and TpA operate at different levels. With respect to TpA, dinucleotide scarcity may reflect a requirement for mRNA stability and may indicate the action of UpA-selective ribonucleases. We propose that, by reason of its instability, UpA must have been very rare in primordial RNA. Therefore, tRNA with the anticodon for this dinucleotide may have failed to evolve, making UpA the primordial doublet "stop" codon. The modern triplet code has faithfully conserved this arrangement in the two universal stop codons, UAA and UAG.

Base Sequence↗