scholarly journals Understanding the Genetic Code

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milton H. Saier
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Code ◽  
Early Evolution ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Life On Earth

ABSTRACTThe universal triple-nucleotide genetic code is often viewed as a given, randomly selected through evolution. However, as summarized in this article, many observations and deductions within structural and thermodynamic frameworks help to explain the forces that must have shaped the code during the early evolution of life on Earth.

Mineral photoelectrons and their implications for the origin and early evolution of life on Earth

2014 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 897-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
AnHuai Lu ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Yan Li ◽  
HongRui Ding ◽  
ChangQiu Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Evolution ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Life On Earth

scholarly journals The Origin and Early Evolution of Life: Prebiotic Chemistry

Life ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Fiore
Keyword(s):  
Prebiotic Chemistry ◽  
Early Evolution ◽  
Cellular Life ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Life On Earth

Microfossil evidence indicates that cellular life on Earth emerged during the Paleoarchean era be-tween 3 [...]

scholarly journals The Origin and Early Evolution of Life on Earth

1990 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 317-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Oro ◽  
S L Miller ◽  
A Lazcano
Keyword(s):  
Early Evolution ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Life On Earth

scholarly journals Type-II tRNAs and Evolution of Translation Systems and the Genetic Code

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 3275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunsoo Kim ◽  
Bruce Kowiatek ◽  
Kristopher Opron ◽  
Zachary Burton
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Code ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Trna Synthetases ◽  
The Core ◽  
Cellular Life ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Trna Evolution ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Translation Systems

Because tRNA is the core biological intellectual property that was necessary to evolve translation systems, tRNAomes, ribosomes, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and the genetic code, the evolution of tRNA is the core story in evolution of life on earth. We have previously described the evolution of type-I tRNAs. Here, we use the same model to describe the evolution of type-II tRNAs, with expanded V loops. The models are strongly supported by inspection of typical tRNA diagrams, measuring lengths of V loop expansions, and analyzing the homology of V loop sequences to tRNA acceptor stems. Models for tRNA evolution provide a pathway for the inanimate-to-animate transition and for the evolution of translation systems, the genetic code, and cellular life.

scholarly journals Evolution of Life on Earth: tRNA, Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases and the Genetic Code

Life ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Lei ◽  
Zachary F Burton
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Genetic Code ◽  
Elongation Factor ◽  
Trna Synthetase ◽  
Aminoacyl Trna Synthetase ◽  
Trna Synthetases ◽  
Amino Acid Code ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Life On Earth

Life on Earth and the genetic code evolved around tRNA and the tRNA anticodon. We posit that the genetic code initially evolved to synthesize polyglycine as a cross-linking agent to stabilize protocells. We posit that the initial amino acids to enter the code occupied larger sectors of the code that were then invaded by incoming amino acids. Displacements of amino acids follow selection rules. The code sectored from a glycine code to a four amino acid code to an eight amino acid code to an ~16 amino acid code to the standard 20 amino acid code with stops. The proposed patterns of code sectoring are now most apparent from patterns of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase evolution. The Elongation Factor-Tu GTPase anticodon-codon latch that checks the accuracy of translation appears to have evolved at about the eight amino acid to ~16 amino acid stage. Before evolution of the EF-Tu latch, we posit that both the 1st and 3rd anticodon positions were wobble positions. The genetic code evolved via tRNA charging errors and via enzymatic modifications of amino acids joined to tRNAs, followed by tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase differentiation. Fidelity mechanisms froze the code by inhibiting further innovation.

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