Amino acid synthesis hints at how the genetic code expanded
by
Hayley Birch, RSC
—
last modified
03-30-11 05:05 AM
Copyright 2011, RSC
One molecule of lysine is converted to an ornithine derivative then combines with a second lysine to make pyrrolysine
The detailed pathway for the biosynthesis of pyrrolysine - the 22nd and latest amino acid to be discovered - has been outlined by US researchers. The results show that each pyrrolysine is made from two lysine precursors, pointing towards a route by which new amino acids could have been introduced into the genetic code during evolution. More...
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2011/March/30031102.asp
