Abstract
The self-referential model for the formation of the genetic code proposes that protein synthesis was initiated by proto-tRNA dimers. Proto-tRNAs in the dimers recognize each other through anticodon pairing. The proteins produced recognize the producing dimers through binding, forming (proto)ribonucleoprotein (RNP) aggregates. Their functions were stimulated and specificities evolved through cycling. Such cycles would be among the first in the construction of living networks, and examples of processes that might be relevant for modeling cognitive networks. The protein synthesis process is considered a main drive for the living system′s specific attributes of anabolic and evolutionary semi-autonomy. Structures of the anticodon dimer networks are presented. Biological data point to the encoding having been installed on the modules of dimers formed by nonself-complementary triplets. Aminoacyl-tRNA adhesion interactions integrated the dimer networks into RNP networks. Specific questions are proposed for simulation and modeling that should help in designing experimental procedures aiming at testing the model and the development of synthetic genetic codes.
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Abbreviations
- Amino acids :
-
Are designated by three-letter abbreviations; groups of amino acids may be indicated by one-letter abbreviations
- Anticodon:
-
The code triplet of transfer RNA, the default notation of code triplets
- aRS:
-
Synthetase, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
- Codon:
-
The code triplet of messenger RNA
- iMet:
-
Initiator
- MaRS:
-
Multi-aRS complex
- mRNA:
-
Messenger RNA
- pDiN:
-
The principal dinucleotide of code triplets, excluding the wobble position
- R:
-
Purines
- RF:
-
Release factors
- RNP:
-
Ribonucleoprotein
- rRNA:
-
Ribosomal RNA
- SRM:
-
Self-referential model
- Transferase:
-
Peptidyl-transferase
- tRNA:
-
Transfer RNA
- -, w, N (any base):
-
The wobble position of code triplets, anticodon 5′ or codon 3′
- X:
-
Stop or termination
- Y:
-
Pyrimidines
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Acknowledgments
The continued collaboration of the colleagues in the Self-organization Group of the Center for Logics and Epistemology of UNICAMP, especially Alfredo Pereira Júnior, and of Carlos Henrique Costa Moreira and Sávio Torres de Farias are deeply appreciated, as well as the fruitful discussions with Arkadiusz Chworos.
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Guimarães, R.C. Mutuality in Discrete and Compositional Information: Perspectives for Synthetic Genetic Codes. Cogn Comput 4, 115–139 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12559-011-9116-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12559-011-9116-1