title: Degeneracy of the genetic code and stability of the base pair at the second position of the anticodon.
abstract: With an analysis of the structural constraints of the anticodon-codon interaction within the decoding center of the ribosome, we show that the extent of degeneracy at the third position of the anticodon is determined by the level of stability of the base pair at the second position.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Libchaber
mesh_terms: D000926:Anticodon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D020029:Base Pairing; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000926:Anticodon; D012343:RNA, Transfer