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Transfer RNA in Decoding and the Wobble Hypothesis

Tuite, Mick F. and von der Haar, Tobias (2016) Transfer RNA in Decoding and the Wobble Hypothesis. In: eLS. Wiley, pp. 1-7. E-ISBN 978-0-470-01590-2. (doi:10.1002/9780470015902.a0001497.pub2) (KAR id:58877)

Abstract

Translation of the genetic code stored in messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) requires significantly fewer transfer RNAs (35–45) than there are codons (61, amino acid specifying). This is achieved through an increased flexibility in the allowable base-pair interactions between the messenger RNA and the transfer RNA involving the third position of the codon and the first position of the corresponding anticodon. The rules governing this RNA:RNA interaction were originally summarised in Crick's ‘wobble hypothesis’. Covalent modification of the first base of an anticodon of a transfer RNA can profoundly affect the degree of flexibility in its base-pairing potential by either extending or restricting such interactions. Recent studies suggest that the rate at which a codon is processed by the ribosome is influenced by whether or not decoding of that codon is via wobble base interactions. Yet, in spite of this flexibility and different rates of processing, decoding by transfer RNAs is achieved with considerable accuracy.

Item Type: Book section
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0001497.pub2
Uncontrolled keywords: wobble hypothesis;tRNA;anticodon;codon;mRNA decoding;codon recognition;base modification
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Susan Davies
Date Deposited: 23 Nov 2016 10:26 UTC
Last Modified: 06 May 2020 03:15 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/58877 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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