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PMID: 3921962 Published · ppublish English Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

An unusual genetic code in nuclear genes of Tetrahymena.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America ·Vol. 82 ·No. 8 ·1985-04-00 ·Pages 2452-5

Horowitz S, Gorovsky MA

Abstract

We have cloned and partially sequenced two histone H3 genes of Tetrahymena thermophila. The DNA sequences strongly suggest that both genes are active in the vegetatively growing cell. Comparison of the derived amino acid sequences of these two genes with the actual sequence of Tetrahymena histone H3 results in the surprising conclusion that TAA codes for glutamine. This represents the first demonstration of a coding function for this termination codon of the "universal" code. This observation has important implications for the evolution of ciliates and of the genetic code.

MeSH Terms
Amino Acid Sequence Animals Base Sequence Biological Evolution Ciliophora/genetics DNA/genetics Genetic Code Glutamine/genetics Histones/genetics Tetrahymena/genetics
Chemicals
Histones Glutamine DNA
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Horowitz S
Gorovsky M A
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23 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Abbr.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
ISSN
0027-8424
DOI
10.1073/pnas.82.8.2452
Published
1985-04-00
Pages
2452-5
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
7505876
PMCID
PMC397576
Subset
IM
Databases
GENBANK
M11142, M11143
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1073/pnas.82.8.2452 PMC Full Text View journal details
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