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On Codon reassignment

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Abstract

Schultz and Yarus (J. Mol. Biol. 235:1377–1380, 1994) have proposed that reassignment of codons in the genetic code passes through a stage in which the codons are ambiguously translated. In contrast, we state that such ambiguity would be deleterious, and that, to be reassigned, a codon, together with the tRNA that translates the codon, must first disappear from coding sequences, after which a tRNA appears with a mutated anticodon, and this enables the codon to reappear with a changed meaning. In the case of a stop codon, the relevant release factor must change so as not to recognize it.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biohistory Research Hall 1-1 Murasaki-cho, Takatsuki, 569, Osaka, Japan

    S. Osawa

  2. Space Sciences Lab, University of California, Berkeley, 6701 San Pablo Avenue, 94608, Oakland, CA, USA

    T. H. Jukes

Authors
  1. S. Osawa
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  2. T. H. Jukes
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Correspondence to: T.H. Jukes

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Osawa, S., Jukes, T.H. On Codon reassignment. J Mol Evol 41, 247–249 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00170679

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00170679

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