Download Figure 10.10 Deciphering the Genetic Code In 1961, Nirenberg and

Figure 10.10 Deciphering the Genetic Code
In 1961, Nirenberg and Matthaei cracked the genetic code by using an artificial mRNA in which
all of the bases were uracil (poly U). In this experiment, the scientists prepared a bacterial
extract that contained all of the components needed to translate proteins and then added the
mRNA homopolymer. Results showed that the cell-free extract produced a polypeptide
composed entirely of the amino acid phenylalanine. Similarly, Nirenberg and Matthaei went on
to test poly A and poly C, which produced lysine and proline, respectively. Although at the time
the pair did not test poly G due to technical difficulties with mRNA synthesis, this homopolymer
would have resulted in the production of glycine. This experiment, commonly referred to as
“the poly U experiment,” laid the foundation for Nirenberg’s groundbreaking work on the
genetic code. He continued working on the code until he had completely deciphered it in 1966.
Two years later, Nirenberg shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1968 with two
other scientists “for their interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein
synthesis.”
Original Papers
Nirenberg, M. W., and J. H. Matthaei. 1961. The dependence of cell-free protein synthesis in E.
coli upon naturally occurring or synthetic polyribonucleotides. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences 47: 1588–1602.
http://www.pnas.org/content/47/10/1588.full.pdf+html
Nirenberg, M. W., J. H. Matthaei, and O. W. Jones Jr. 1962. An intermediate in the
biosynthesis of polyphenylalanine directed by synthetic template RNA. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences 48: 104–109.
http://www.pnas.org/content/48/1/104.full.pdf+html
Matthaei, J. H., O. W. Jones Jr., R. G. Martin, and M. W. Nirenberg. 1962. Characteristics and
composition of RNA coding units. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 48: 666–
677.
http://www.pnas.org/content/48/4/666.full.pdf+html
Jones, O.W. Jr., and M. W. Nirenberg. 1962. Qualitative survey of RNA codewords. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences 48: 2115–2123.
http://www.pnas.org/content/48/12/2115.full.pdf+html
Nirenberg, M. W., J. H. Matthaei, O. W. Jones Jr., R. G. Martin, and S. H. Barondes. 1963.
Approximation of Genetic Code Via Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Directed by Template RNA.
Federation Proceedings 22: 55–61.
http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/JJ/B/B/J/J/
Nirenberg, M. W., P. Leder, M. Bernfield, R. Brimacombe, J. Trupin, F. Rottman, and C. O'Neal.
1965. RNA codewords and protein synthesis, VII. On the general nature of the RNA code.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 53: 1161–1168.
http://www.pnas.org/content/53/5/1161.full.pdf+html
Links
Smith, A. 2008. Nucleic Acids to Amino Acids: DNA Specifies Protein. Nature Education 1(1)
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/Nucleic-Acids-to-Amino-Acids-DNA-Specifies-935
Ralston, A., and K. Shaw. 2008. Reading the Genetic Code. Nature Education 1(1)
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/Reading-the-Genetic-Code-1042
Dr. Marshall Nirenberg: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1968
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1968/
Nobel prize.org: Crack the Code
http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/gene-code/index.html
Lasker Foundation: An Interview with Marshall Nirenberg
http://www.laskerfoundation.org/media/v_nirenberg.htm
Genome News Network: Marshall Nirenberg (1927–2010) Cracks the Genetic Code
http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/resources/timeline/1961_Nirenberg.php
Office of NIH History: The Poly-U Experiment
http://history.nih.gov/exhibits/nirenberg/HS4_polyU.htm
National Library of Medicine: Profiles in Science: The Marshall W. Nirenberg Papers: Synthetic
RNA and the Poly-U Experiments, 1957–1962
http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/JJ/Views/Exhibit/narrative/syntheticrna.html
National Library of Medicine: Profiles in Science: The Marshall W. Nirenberg Papers:
Translating the Code of Life and the Nobel Prize, 1962–1968
http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/JJ/Views/Exhibit/narrative/codeoflife.html
Wall Street Journal: Scientist Set Stage for Genetic Engineering
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703626604575011450122739496.html