The genetic code of the fungal CTG clade
Open accessAbstract
Genetic code alterations discovered over the last 40 years in bacteria and eukaryotes invalidate the hypothesis that the code is universal and frozen. Mitochondria of various yeast species translate the UGA stop codon as tryptophan (Trp) and leucine (Leu) CUN codons (N = any nucleotide) as threonine (Thr) and fungal CTG clade species reassigned Leu CUG codons to serine and translate them ambiguously in their cytoplasms. This unique sense-to-sense genetic code alteration is mediated by a Ser-tRNA containing a Leu 5’-CAG-3’anticodon (ser-tRNA CAG ), which is recognized and charged with Ser (∼97%) by the seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) and with Leu (∼3%) by the leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS). This unusual tRNA appeared 272 ± 25 million years ago and had a profound impact on the evolution of the CTG clade species. Here, we review the most recent results and concepts arising from the study of this codon reassignment and we highlight how its study is changing our views of the evolution of the genetic code.
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C. auris and C. albicans are related closely enough to share the same noncanonical genetic code.
“particularly for species related closely enough to share the same noncanonical genetic code40,41.”
From The emerging fungal pathogen <i>Candida auris</i> induces IFNγ to colonize mammalian hair follicles (2025) · cites this paper as [40]
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The emerging fungal pathogen <i>Candida auris</i> induces IFNγ to colonize mammalian hair follicles
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- Authors
- Santos, M. A. S., Gomes, A. C., Santos, M. C., Carreto, L. C., & Moura, G. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Aveiro (PT)
- Corresponding author
- Santos, Manuel A.S.
- Venue
- Comptes Rendus. Biologies
- Publisher
- MathDoc/Centre Mersenne
- Published
- 2011-07-02
- Volume
- 334
- Issue
- 8-9
- Pages
- 607-611
- ISSN
- 1631-0691 (ISSN-L)
- 1768-3238
- OpenAlex
- W2170087779
- Cited by
- 110
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Comptes Rendus Biologies (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA modifications and cancer
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Keywords
- genetic code evolution, codon reassignment, serine tRNA, seryl-tRNA synthetase, leucyl-tRNA synthetase, fungal evolution
- MeSH terms
- Amino Acids, Codon, Cytoplasm, Fungi, Genetic Code, Proteomics
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