Second codon positions of genes and the secondary structures of proteins. Relationships and implications for the origin of the genetic code.
The nucleotide frequencies in the second codon positions of genes are remarkably different for the coding regions that correspond to different secondary structures in the encoded proteins, namely, helix, beta-strand and aperiodic structures. Indeed, hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids are encoded by codons having U or A, respectively, in their second position. Moreover, the beta-strand structure is strongly hydrophobic, while aperiodic structures contain more hydrophilic amino acids. The relationship between nucleotide frequencies and protein secondary structures is associated not only with the physico-chemical properties of these structures but also with the organisation of the genetic code. In fact, this organisation seems to have evolved so as to preserve the secondary structures of proteins by preventing deleterious amino acid substitutions that could modify the physico-chemical properties required for an optimal structure.
Chiusano
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Laboratorio di Evoluzione Molecolare, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, I-80121, Naples, Italy.
Alvarez-Valin
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F
Di Giulio
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D'Onofrio
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G
Ammirato
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Colonna
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Bernardi
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G
D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005796:Genes / Q000235:genetics*; D005815:Genetic Code / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011387:Prokaryotic Cells; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D003062:Codon; D011506:Proteins