Summary
The use of triplet code words inE. coli,ФX174, MS2, and rabbit globin was examined. A significant deficiency of purines in the third position of fourfold degenerate codons was noted, although its significance is not understood. There has been no consistent selection against uracil in pyrimidine restricted codons. For many amino acids the choice between code words appears random, while for arginine, isoleucine, and probably glycine, distinct biases exist which can be explained in terms of tRNA availability.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Air, G.M., Blackburn, E.H., Coulson, A.R., Gulibert, F., Sanger, F., Sedat, J.W., Ziff, E.B. (1976). J. Mol. Biol.107, 445
Barrell, B.G., Air, G.M., Hutchison, C.A. (1976). Nature264, 34
Berger, E. (1977). American Naturalist111, 123
Blank, H.U., Söll, D. (1971). J. Biol. Chem.246, 4947
Caskey, C.T., Beaudet, A., Nirenberg, M. (1968). J. Mol. Biol.37, 99
Efstradatis, A., Kafatos, F.C., Maniatis, T. (1977). Cell10, 571
Elton, R.A., Russell, G.J., Subak-Sharpe, J.H. (1976). J. Mol. Evol.8, 117
Fiers, W., Contreras, R., Duerinck, F., Haegemans, G., Iserentant, P., Merreguert, J., Min Jou, W., Molemans, F., Raeymaekers, A., Van den Berge, A., Volckaert, G., Ysebert, G. (1976). Nature260, 500
Fitch, W. (1976) Science194, 1173
Harada, F., Nishimura, S. (1974). Biochemistry13, 300 Marshall, R.E., Coskey, C.T., Nirenberg, M. (1967). Science155, 820
Maxam, A., Gilbert,, W., Chapman, N., Copenhaver, G., Donis-Kell, H., Rosenthal, R. (1976). Unpublished data
Sanger, F., Air, G., Barrell, B., Brown, L., Coulson, A., Fiddes, J., Hutchison, C., Slocombe, P., Smith, M. (1977). Nature265, 687
Sherberg, N.H., Weiss, S.B. (1972). Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA69, 1114
Strickberger, M.W. (1976).Genetics, 2nd ed., Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., New York, p. 54
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berger, E.M. Pattern and chance in the use of the genetic code. J Mol Evol 10, 319–323 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01734221
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01734221