Summary
It was found by using the CPK molecular model that holes on the complexes of four nucleotides (C4N) on the tRNAs, namely complexes of the anticodon bases with the discriminator base at 4th position of 3′ end, had lock and key relations to the corresponding protein amino acids. Various general features of the universal and mitochondrial genetic codes were easily explained in terms of the C4N model. The recognition mechanism of the tRNA by the aminoacyl-tRNA-synthetase is closely correlated with the formation of the C4N on the Rossmann fold on the synthetase. The meaning of the hypermodification of the tRNA base next to the third anticodon base and other phenomena were also discussed.
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Shimizu, M. Molecular basis for the genetic code. J Mol Evol 18, 297–303 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01733895
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01733895