Ohama Takeshi, Inagaki Yuji, Bessho Yoshitaka, Osawa Syozo
Kochi University of Technology, Department of Environmental System Engineering, Kochi, Japan.
Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci. 2008;84(2):58-74. doi: 10.2183/pjab.84.58.
In 1985, we reported that a bacterium, Mycoplasma capricolum, used a deviant genetic code, namely UGA, a "universal" stop codon, was read as tryptophan. This finding, together with the deviant nuclear genetic codes in not a few organisms and a number of mitochondria, shows that the genetic code is not universal, and is in a state of evolution. To account for the changes in codon meanings, we proposed the codon capture theory stating that all the code changes are non-disruptive without accompanied changes of amino acid sequences of proteins. Supporting evidence for the theory is presented in this review. A possible evolutionary process from the ancient to the present-day genetic code is also discussed.
1985年，我们报道了一种细菌——山羊支原体，它使用一种异常的遗传密码，即UGA这个“通用”的终止密码子被解读为色氨酸。这一发现，连同不少生物体和许多线粒体中存在的异常核遗传密码，表明遗传密码并非通用，而是处于进化状态。为了解释密码子含义的变化，我们提出了密码子捕获理论，该理论指出所有密码子的变化都是无干扰的，不会伴随蛋白质氨基酸序列的改变。本综述给出了该理论的支持证据。还讨论了从古代遗传密码到现代遗传密码可能的进化过程。
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