Abstract A correlation of various aspects of the protein structures and substrate and mechanistic specificities of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases has led to the identification of at least one family of enzymes probably derived from a common ancestral synthetase. While strong correlations exist only in one part of the array of 64 codons comprising the Genetic Code, this itself may be interpreted as a meaningful pattern, most consistent with a development of the present code from earlier codes containing fewer amino acids and fewer available codons. Specifically, strong correlations in the enzymes whose cognate tRNAs respond to codons containing a central pyrimidine, including the enzyme family of Ile-, Phe-, Val-, Met-, and Leu-tRNA synthetases, suggests that these enzymes evolved last, and that, therefore, an earlier version of the Genetic Code was comprised solely of codons containing a central purine. It is suggested that further study of the historical interrelationships of these enzymes could lead to a fairly detailed picture of how the Genetic Code developed.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase families and their significance to the origin of the genetic code


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Origins of life ; 9 , 1 ; 39-50


    Publication date :

    1978




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English



    Classification :

    BKL:    44.71 Verkehrsmedizin
    Local classification TIB:    535/3908/4290



    Aminoacyl-nucleotide reactions: Studies related to the origin of the genetic code and protein synthesis

    Mullins, D. W. / Senaratne, N. / Lacey, J. C. | Online Contents | 1984



    The Origin of the Genetic Code

    Scapoli, C. / Fontana, F. / Barrai, I. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995


    The origin of the genetic code

    Ishigami, Masahiro / Nagano, Kei | Online Contents | 1975