Fun with Peptide Sequences

PS One little correction to the previous post: in the (Almost) Universal Genetic Code, THREE amino acids correspond to a whopping six codons apiece - Leucine, Arginine, and SERINE. Please feel free to email if you catch another error here, or have a question about anything biological. <MQG@teachDNA.net>

Now for fun. We can use the one-letter amino acid (AA) abbreviations to spell out words! Here’s a very small one: Methionine-Arginine-Serine spells MRS, the traditional title of a female who has been married. How many possible DNA sequences can encode this tripeptide?

Notice that the inner segments of the Jumbo Paperclips are slightly bent - that’s important. Note also that the paperclips all point in the same direction, like real AA backbone parts.

In this word game we are constrained to a 20-letter alphabet. Our only vowels, alas, are A, E, I, and Y.

The six forbidden letters are (in alphabetical order) B, J, O, U, X, Z. Two alternative mnemonics can help: JUZBOX (a juice box), and JOXBUZ (the short haircut favored by 20th-century male athletes).

Still, there’s a lot we can say. MAKE THINGS!

Like all good polypeptides, this starts with M, encoded in the gene by ATG. Starting with M is required in biology but an optional rule for you.

Wait, what’s GCN, AGR, GAR etc? Ambiguous base notation. N= ANY base, R=PURINE, Y=PYRIMIDINE. and H=NOT G. The full list can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleic_acid_notation - Please support Wikipedia!

Other meaningful things can be put together…

CREATE NEW SEQUENCES

DECRYPT WEIRD MESSAGES

LIGATE MY CHAINS EASILY

MAMMARY MADE MILK A CHILD DRINKING

SILLY CRAP

PEPTIDE CAKE

ETC ETC ETC

Look for the 20AA DIY cut-out sticker sheets (a pair of PDFs) free for download on the Resources page. You’re welcome again! Printing, cutting, adhesive, and paperclips are up to you.