'Silent code' of nucleotides, not amino acids, determines functions of vital proteins

(University of Pennsylvania) Humans possess six forms of the protein actin, which perform essential functions in the body. Two in particular,β-actin andγ-actin, are nearly identical, only differing by four amino acids. Yet these near-twin proteins carry out distinct roles. A long standing question for biologists has been, how is this possible? New findings from the University of Pennsylvania have pointed to a surprising answer. The differing functions of these proteins are determined not by their amino acid sequences but by their genetic code.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news