Blastocrithidia—A Genetic Alien from the Planet Earth
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60077344%3A_____%2F25%3A00642913" target="_blank" >RIV/60077344:_____/25:00642913 - isvavai.cz</a>
Alternative codes found
RIV/61388971:_____/25:00642913 RIV/61988987:17310/25:A2603CYW RIV/60076658:12310/25:43910243
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a041868" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a041868</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a041868" target="_blank" >10.1101/cshperspect.a041868</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Blastocrithidia—A Genetic Alien from the Planet Earth
Original language description
The standard genetic code, which applies almost without exception, is the key to our understanding of molecular biological processes. Although it is close to impossible to imagine that sparse code changes occur naturally given proteomic constraints, specific cases of codon usage alterations have been documented, mostly in unicellular eukaryotes. Here, we summarize what we have learned about Blastocrithidia, a little-known parasitic flagellate with all three stop codons reassigned to sense codons, which uses UAA as the only universal stop codon. We first describe its origin, life cycle, morphology, cultivation, and transformation, the combination of which predisposes it to become the first tractable eukaryote with a noncanonical genetic code. Next, we present our across-the-genome analysis revealing uneven distribution of in-frame stops and discuss the features distinguishing in-frame and genuine stop codons that allow for so-called position-specific termination. Finally, given what is known about stop codon readthrough by near-cognate transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and the fidelity of stop codon recognition by eukaryotic release factor 1 (eRF1), we propose a model illuminating how unique properties of Blastocrithidia tRNAs, combined with specific alterations of its eRF1, enable this massive deviation from the standard genetic code.
Czech name
—
Czech description
—
Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
—
OECD FORD branch
10608 - Biochemistry and molecular biology
Result continuities
Project
Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.
Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
ISSN
1943-0264
e-ISSN
1943-0264
Volume of the periodical
17
Issue of the periodical within the volume
12
Country of publishing house
US - UNITED STATES
Number of pages
21
Pages from-to
a041868
UT code for WoS article
001627580400001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105023545702