Simplification of the genetic code: restricted diversity of genetically encoded amino acids.

ABSTRACT: At earlier stages in the evolution of the universal genetic code, fewer than 20 amino acids were considered to be used. Although this notion is supported by a wide range of data, the actual existence and function of the genetic codes with a limited set of canonical amino acids have not been addressed experimentally, in contrast to the successful development of the expanded codes. Here, we constructed artificial genetic codes involving a reduced alphabet. In one of the codes, a tRNAAla variant with the Trp anticodon reassigns alanine to an unassigned UGG codon in the Escherichia coli S30 cell-free translation system lacking tryptophan. We confirmed that the efficiency and accuracy of protein synthesis by this Trp-lacking code were comparable to those by the universal genetic code, by an ami

SUBMITTER: Kawahara-Kobayashi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3488234 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature