Journal
JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY
Volume 218, Issue 1, Pages 97-109Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1006/jtbi.2002.3054
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We explore adaptive theories for the diversity of translational binding based on the genetic code viewed as a primitive mechanism of resistance. Modifying the set of codons bound by tRNA anticodon molecules or changing the specificity of binding, reduces the replication rate of translational parasites such as viruses. Increased translational efficiency of the parasite requires a high degree of specificity of host tRNAs for the parasite codons. This suggests that the genetic code might serve as the first line of defense against infection. We construct a red queen theory for translational diversity: a theory in which host-translational strategies-as defined by the degree of redundancy (a single anticodon binding many codons for a single amino acid) or degeneracy (many anticodons binding many codons for a single amino acid)-are constantly shifting through time to evade parasitism but where neither parasite nor host gain a systematic advantage. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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