Title:

The Dependence of Cell-Free Protein Synthesis in E. Coli Upon Naturally Occuring or Synthetic Polyribonucleotides

Creator:

Nirenberg, Marshall W.
Matthaei, Heinrich

Date:

October 1961

Description:

In this landmark essay, published in conjunction with "Characteristics and Stabilization of DNAase-Sensitive Protein Synthesis in E. coli Extracts," the authors present the same conclusions revealed in Nirenberg's address at the now famous International Congress of Biochemistry in Moscow during August 1961. Adding an artificial form of RNA, polyuridylic acid, consisting of the base uracil, to the E. coli extract resulted in the production of an unnatural protein composed entirely of the amino acid phenylalanine. The experiment showed that UUU was the codon for phenylalanine and that messenger RNA, which transcribes genetic information from DNA, directs protein synthesis. This provided a route to base compositions of codons and the exploration of the general nature of the code.

Periodical:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Publisher:

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Rights:

Reproduced with permission of Marshall W. Nirenberg.

Genre:

Articles

Subject:

RNA, RNA, Ribosomal, Escherichia coli, and RNA, Messenger

Format:

Text

Extent:

15 pages

Relation:

Characteristics and Stabilization of DNAase-Sensitive Protein Synthesis in E. Coli Extracts, 1961

Language:

English

Legacy Source Citation:

Periodical. Nirenberg, Marshall W., and J. Heinrich Matthaei. "The Dependence of Cell-Free Protein Synthesis in E. Coli Upon Naturally Occuring or Synthetic Polyribonucleotides." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 47, 10 (October 1961): 1588-1602. Article. 15 Images.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Legacy ID:

JJBBDK

NLM ID:

101584910X50

Profiles Collection:

The Marshall W. Nirenberg Papers

Shareable Link:

https://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/101584910X50

Story Section:

Synthetic RNA and the Poly-U Experiments, 1959-1962