Zeitschrift für Proteomik und Bioinformatik
Offener Zugang

Abstrakt

Suggestion to Upgrade the Canonical Concept of Translation

Jan Charles Biro

Background: This research was carried out to provide a summary of a series of bioinformatical observations between 2000 and 2014 concerning the structure of nucleic acids and codons, the interaction between codons and amino-acids and the general concept of translation.

Methods: Public sequence and structure databases and established methods of bioinformatics resources were utilized during these studies.

Results: These studies provided novel insights into the canonical concept of translation and suggest that: 1) codons have structure and the development and function of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd codon residues is different; 2) codon boundaries are physicochemically defined; 3) there is a stereo-chemical compatibility (fitting) between codons and coded amino acids; 4) codon redundancy in the Genetic Code (synonymous codons) provides folding (3D) information to protein syntheses, that is additional to the information requested to determine the sequence of aminoacids (primary or 2D structure); 5) there is a Proteomic Code in the redundant Genetic Code; 6) mRNA-s assist the co-translational folding of their own coded peptides i.e. they function as nucleic acid chaperons; 7) tRNA-s assist even the transfer of folding information from mRNA to proteins (tRNA cycle) in addition to their traditional role as adaptor between codons and amino acids.

Conclusions: Computational (statistical) studies, molecular modeling and theoretical biological considerations suggest the possibility and necessity to upgrade the canonical concept of translation. Traditional laboratory confirmation is requested.