Why Were [GADV]-amino Acids and GNC Codons Selected and How Was GNC Primeval Genetic Code Established?

Genes (Basel). 2023 Jan 31;14(2):375. doi: 10.3390/genes14020375.

Abstract

Correspondence relations between codons and amino acids are determined by genetic code. Therefore, genetic code holds a key of the life system composed of genes and protein. According to the GNC-SNS primitive genetic code hypothesis, which I have proposed, it is assumed that the genetic code originated from GNC code. In this article, first, it is discussed from a standpoint of primeval protein synthesis, why four [GADV]-amino acids were selected and used in the first GNC code. Next, it is explained from another standpoint of the most primitive anticodon-stem loop tRNAs (AntiC-SL tRNAs), how four GNCs were selected for the first codons. Furthermore, in the last section of this article, I will explain my idea of how the correspondence relations between four [GADV]-amino acids and four GNC codons were established. Namely, the origin and evolution of the genetic code was discussed comprehensively from several aspects of [GADV]-proteins, [GADV]-amino acids, GNC codons, and anticodon stem-loop tRNAs (AntiC-SL tRNAs), which relate each other to the origin of the genetic code, as integrating GNC code frozen-accident theory, coevolution theory, and adaptive theory on the origin of the genetic code.

Keywords: GADV hypothesis; GNC code frozen-accident theory; adaptive theory; coevolution theory; core life system; origin of life; origin of tRNA; origin of the genetic code.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids* / genetics
  • Anticodon*
  • Codon
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Genetic Code
  • Proteins / genetics
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Anticodon
  • Codon
  • RNA, Transfer
  • Proteins

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.