Description

Each triplet of bases in DNA codes has a specific meaning, typically identifying an amino acid. The code is degenerate, since most amino acids may be coded by more than one codon.


Bases in triplet:

(1) 5'-OH terminal base

(2) middle base

(3) 3'-OH terminal base

 

1st base

2nd Base

3rd Base

Amino Acid

U

U

U

phenylalanine

U

U

C

phenylalanine

U

U

A

leucine

U

U

G

leucine

U

C

U

serine

U

C

C

serine

U

C

A

serine

U

C

G

serine

U

A

U

tyrosine

U

A

C

tyrosine

U

A

A

STOP

U

A

G

STOP

U

G

U

cysteine

U

G

C

cysteine

U

G

A

STOP

U

G

G

tryptophan

C

U

U

leucine

C

U

C

leucine

C

U

A

leucine

C

U

G

leucine

C

C

U

proline

C

C

C

proline

C

C

A

proline

C

C

G

proline

C

A

U

histidine

C

A

C

histidine

C

A

A

glutamine

C

A

G

glutamine

C

G

U

arginine

C

G

C

arginine

C

G

A

arginine

C

G

G

arginine

A

U

U

isoleucine

A

U

C

isoleucine

A

U

A

isoleucine

A

U

G

methionine

A

C

U

threonine

A

C

C

threonine

A

C

A

threonine

A

C

G

threonine

A

A

U

asparagine

A

A

C

asparagine

A

A

A

lysine

A

A

G

lysine

A

G

U

serine

A

G

C

serine

A

G

A

arginine

A

G

G

arginine

G

U

U

valine

G

U

C

valine

G

U

A

valine

G

U

G

valine

G

C

U

alanine

G

C

C

alanine

G

C

A

alanine

G

C

G

alanine

G

A

U

asparagine

G

A

C

asparagine

G

A

A

glutamine

G

A

G

glutamine

G

G

U

glycine

G

G

C

glycine

G

G

A

glycine

G

G

G

glycine

 

where:

• A triplet codon ending in a U or C codes for the same amino acid.

 

Amino Acid

Abbreviation

Codons

alanine

Ala

GCU, GCC, GCA, GCG

arginine

Arg

CGU, CGC, CGA, CGG, AGA, AGG

asparagine

Asn

AAU, AAC

aspartic acid

Asp

GAU, GAC

cysteine

Cys

UGU, UGC

glutamic acid

Glu

GAA, GAG

glutamine

Gln

CAA, CAG

glycine

Gly

GGU, GGC, GGA, GGG

histidine

His

CAU, CAC

isoleucine

Ile

AUU, AUC, AUA

leucine

Leu

UUA, UUG, CUU, CUC, CUA, CUG

lysine

Lys

AAA, AAG

methionine

Met

AUG

phenylalanine

Phe

UUU, UUC

proline

Pro

CCU, CCC, CCA, CCG

serine

Ser

UCU, UCC, UCA, UCG, AGU, AGC

STOP

 

UAA, UAG, UGA

threonine

Thr

ACU, ACC, ACA, ACG

tryptophan

Trp

UGG

tyrosine

Tyr

UAU, UAC

valine

Val

GUU, GUC, GUA, GUG

 


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