Summary
The physicochemical properties of β-turns suggest their biological importance prior to the formation of the genetic code. These properties include ones potentially affecting the preference for eitherl- ord-amino acids. The abundance of certain amino acids in β-turns is correlated with their assignment to a small, well-defined part of the genetic code and with their role as metabolic precursors for other amino acids. It is proposed that in the prebiotic environment, β-turns became objects of selection that influenced the evolution of the genetic code and biosynthetic pathways for amino acids.
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Jurka, J., Smith, T.F. β-Turn-driven early evolution: The genetic code and biosynthesis pathways. J Mol Evol 25, 15–19 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02100036
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02100036