Searching for the 23rd Amino Acid in Prokaryotic Genomes
Author Information
Author(s): Fujita Masashi, Mihara Hisaaki, Goto Susumu, Esaki Nobuyoshi, Kanehisa Minoru
Primary Institution: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University
Hypothesis
Is there a 23rd amino acid encoded by stop codons in prokaryotic genomes?
Conclusion
The study suggests that the unknown amino acid encoded by stop codons does not exist, or its distribution is very limited.
Supporting Evidence
- The study successfully recovered many known selenoproteins and pyrrolysine proteins.
- No promising candidate for the 23rd amino acid was detected.
- The method can be used in future studies to explore novel readthrough events.
Takeaway
Scientists looked for a new amino acid in bacteria but didn't find it, suggesting it might not be there at all.
Methodology
The study systematically predicted proteins containing stop-codon-encoded amino acids from 191 prokaryotic genomes using evolutionary conservation patterns.
Potential Biases
The study assumes that all readthrough genes will have homologs, which may not always be true.
Limitations
The method may miss novel amino acids that are not conserved across species.
Participant Demographics
The study analyzed 191 prokaryotic genomes, including 166 bacteria and 25 archaea.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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