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Related Concept Videos

Amino acids03:42

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Amino acids are the monomers that comprise proteins. Each amino acid has the same fundamental structure, which consists of a central carbon atom, or the alpha (α) carbon, bonded to an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH), and to a hydrogen atom. Every amino acid also has another atom or group of atoms bonded to the central atom known as the R group. There are 20 common amino acids present in proteins, each with a different R group. Variation in the amino acid sequence is responsible...
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The flow of genetic information in cells from DNA to mRNA to protein is described by the central dogma, which states that genes specify the sequence of mRNAs, which in turn specify the sequence of amino acids making up all proteins. The decoding of one molecule to another is performed by specific proteins and RNAs. Because the information stored in DNA is so central to cellular function, it makes intuitive sense that the cell would make mRNA copies of this information for protein synthesis...
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Amino acid biosynthesis is essential for cell growth, protein synthesis, and metabolic regulation. Cells generate essential and non-essential amino acids from metabolic intermediates to sustain vital biological functions. These intermediates originate from key metabolic pathways: glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Important precursors include α-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and erythrose-4-phosphate, which...
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Many proteins’ biological role depends on their interactions with their ligands, small molecules that bind to specific locations on the protein known as ligand-binding sites. Ligand-binding sites are often conserved among homologous proteins as these sites are critical for protein function.
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Protein domains are small structurally independent units that are part of a single amino acid chain.  Although these domains are often structurally independent, they may rely on synergistic effects to perform their functions as part of a larger protein. Protein domains may be conserved within the same organism, as well as across different organisms.
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The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
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Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers
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Main Factors Shaping Amino Acid Usage Across Evolution.

Guillermo Lamolle1, Diego Simón1,2,3, Andrés Iriarte1,4

  • 1Laboratorio de Genómica Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La República, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Journal of Molecular Evolution
|June 1, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Species exhibit unique amino acid frequencies due to genetic code variations. Factors influencing these differences across evolution and within genomes are summarized, highlighting evolutionary and intragenomic divergence in amino acid usage.

Keywords:
Amino acid costAmino acidsGC contentGC-skewHydropathyOptimal growth temperature

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The standard genetic code assigns 20 amino acids to 61 codons, with 3 stop codons.
  • Species-specific amino acid frequencies exist within their proteomes.
  • Closely related species share similar GC content and amino acid usage due to slow evolutionary change.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize key factors influencing amino acid usage differences.
  • To explore variations across evolutionary timescales.
  • To investigate intragenomic differences in amino acid frequencies.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of proteomic data.
  • Review of established evolutionary factors.
  • Examination of intragenomic variation studies.

Main Results:

  • Distantly related species show divergent amino acid frequencies.
  • Intragenomic variations in amino acid usage are observed in multicellular organisms like mammals.
  • Evolutionary divergence and intragenomic factors shape amino acid composition.

Conclusions:

  • Amino acid usage is shaped by evolutionary history and intragenomic mechanisms.
  • Understanding these factors is crucial for comparative genomics and evolutionary studies.
  • The study provides a summary of determinants for amino acid frequency variations.