Abstract

The mitochondrial genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae codes for 24 tRNAs. The nucleotide sequences of the tRNA genes suggest a unique set of rules that govern the decoding of the mitochondrial genetic code. The four codons of unmixed fmilies are recognized by single tRNAs that always have a U in the wobble position of the anticodon. The codons of the mixed families are read by two different tRNAs. Codons terminating in a C or U are recognized by tRNAs with a G and codons terminating in a G or A are recognized by tRNAs with a U in the corresponding positions of the anticodons. There are two exceptions to these rules. In the AUN family for isoleucine and methionine, the isoleucine tRNA has a G and the methionine tRNA has a C in the wobble position. The tRNA for the arginine CGN family also has an A in the wobble position of the anticodon. It is of interest that the CGN codons have not been found in the mitochondrial genes sequenced to date. The simplified decoding system of yeast mitochondria allows all the codons to be recognized by only 24 tRNAs.

Keywords

Wobble base pairTransfer RNAGenetic codeGeneticsBiologyGeneCodon usage biasIsoleucineSaccharomyces cerevisiaeGenomeLeucineAmino acidRNA

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Year
1980
Type
article
Volume
77
Issue
6
Pages
3167-3170
Citations
293
Access
Closed

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S.G. Bonitz, Roberta E. Berlani, Gloria M. Coruzzi et al. (1980). Codon recognition rules in yeast mitochondria.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 77 (6) , 3167-3170. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.77.6.3167

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DOI
10.1073/pnas.77.6.3167