Use of Mixed Polymers with Random Sequences (Heteropolymers)

Use of Mixed Polymers with Random Sequences (Heteropolymers)

Use of Mixed Polymers with Random Sequences (Heteropolymers) -

Further elucidation of the code took place by using synthetic messengers containing two kinds of bases.

This technique was employed in the laboratories of Ochoa and Nirenberg and led the deduction of the composition of the codons for the 20 amino acids.

The synthetic messengers contained bases distributed at random (random copolymers).

For example ill a random polymer using U and A nucleot1des eight triplets are possible:

UUU, UUA, UAA, UAU, AAA, AAU, AUT) and AUA.

Theoretically eight amino acids could be coded by these eight codons.

Actual experiments, however, yielded only six, phenylalanine, lysine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine and asparagine.

By varying the relative compositions of U and A in the synthetic messenger, and determining the percentage of the different amino acids in the proteins formed,

it was possible to deduce the composition of the code for different amino acids.

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Third Base Deciphering the Code Use of Polymer Containing a Single Type of Nucleotide (Homopolymers) Use of Mixed Polymers with Random Sequences (Heteropolymers) Use of Mixed Polymers with Defined Sequences (Heteropolymers) Use of Trinucleotides in Filter Binding (Minimessengers) Genetic Code is Universal Colinearity of Gene Structure and its Polypeptide Product

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