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The Wobble Hypothesis: Definition, Statement, Significance

There are more than one codon for one amino acid . This is called degeneracy of genetic code. To explain the possible cause of degeneracy of codons, in 1966, Francis Crick proposed “the Wobble hypothesis”.

According to The Wobble Hypothesis, only the first two bases of the codon have a precise pairing with the bases of the anticodon of tRNA, while the pairing between the third bases of codon and anticodon may Wobble (wobble means to sway or move unsteadily).

The phenomenon permits a single tRNA to recognize more than one codon. Therefore, although there are 61 codons for amino acids, the number of tRNA is far less (around 40) which is due to wobbling.

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The Wobble Hypothesis Statement

The wobble hypothesis states that the base at 5′ end of the anticodon is not spatially confined as the other two bases allowing it to form hydrogen bonds with any of several bases located at the 3′ end of a codon.

This leads to the following conclusions:

• The first two bases of the codon make normal (canonical) H-bond pairs with the 2nd and 3rd bases of the anticodon.
• At the remaining position, less stringent rules apply and non-canonical pairing may occur. The wobble hypothesis thus proposes a more flexible set of base-pairing rules at the third position of the codon.
• The relaxed base-pairing requirement, or “wobble,” allows the anticodon of a single form of tRNA to pair with more than one triplet in mRNA.
• The rules: first base U can recognize A or G, first base G can recognize U or C, and first base I can recognize U, C or A.

Crick’s hypothesis hence predicts that the initial two ribonucleotides of triplet codes are often more critical than the third member in attracting the correct tRNA.

Wobble base pairs

• A wobble base pair is a pairing between two nucleotides in RNA molecules that does not follow Watson-Crick base pair rules.
• The four main wobble base pairs are guanine-uracil (G-U), hypoxanthine-uracil (I-U), hypoxanthine-adenine (I-A), and hypoxanthine-cytosine (I-C).
• In order to maintain consistency of nucleic acid nomenclature, “I” is used for hypoxanthine because hypoxanthine is the nucleobase of inosine.
• Inosine displays the true qualities of wobble, in that if that is the first nucleotide in the anticodon then any of three bases in the original codon can be matched with the tRNA.

Significance of the Wobble Hypothesis

• Our bodies have a limited amount of tRNAs, and wobble allows for broad specificity.
• Wobble base pairs have been shown to facilitate many biological functions, most clearly proven in the bacterium  Escherichia coli .
• The thermodynamic stability of a wobble base pair is comparable to that of a Watson-Crick base pair.
• Wobble base pairs are fundamental in RNA secondary structure and are critical for the proper translation of the genetic code.
• Wobbling allows faster dissociation of tRNA from mRNA and also protein synthesis.
• The existence of wobble minimizes the damage that can be caused by a misreading of the code; for example, if the Leu codon CUU were misread CUC or CUA or CUG during transcription of mRNA, the codon would still be translated as Leu during protein synthesis.
• Verma, P. S., & Agrawal, V. K. (2006). Cell Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Evolution & Ecology (1 ed.). S .Chand and company Ltd.
• Klug, W. S., & Cummings, M. R. (2003). Concepts of genetics. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall.
• https://www.slideshare.net/sweetmerrymindfreak/genetic-code-53764823
• https://www.slideshare.net/ArchaDave/genetic-code-24735057
• https://www.scribd.com/document/344722502/Wobble-hyothesis-pdf
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wobble_base_pair#Wobble_hypothesis

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The Wobble Hypothesis: Importance and Examples

The “wobble hypothesis” refers to a concept in molecular biology that explains the degeneracy of codons. 

Since there are only 20 amino acids and 64 possible codons, multiple codons may code for a single amino acid during protein synthesis. In molecular biology, this redundancy or multiplicity of codons is termed degeneracy.

This hypothesis helps explain how a relatively limited number of tRNA molecules can recognize and bind to multiple codons for the same amino acid, facilitating efficient and accurate protein synthesis. Experimental evidence has supported the wobble hypothesis, a fundamental concept in understanding the genetic code and translation machinery.\

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Importance of Wobble Hypothesis

Overall, the wobble hypothesis plays a fundamental role in understanding protein synthesis and the genetic code, with implications for various aspects of molecular biology, genetics, and biotechnology.

Examples of Wobble Hypothesis

Here are some examples of the wobble hypothesis in action:

Limitation of Wobble Hypothesis

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The Wobble Hypothesis – Definition, Exaplanation, Importance

What is the wobble hypothesis.

The Wobble Hypothesis, proposed by Francis Crick in 1966, provides an explanation for the degeneracy of the genetic code. Degeneracy refers to the fact that multiple codons can code for the same amino acid. According to the Wobble Hypothesis, the precise pairing between the bases of the codon and the anticodon of tRNA occurs only for the first two bases of the codon. However, the pairing between the third base of the codon and the anticodon can exhibit some flexibility or “wobble.”

Wobble base pairs play a crucial role in RNA secondary structure and are critical for accurate translation of the genetic code. The four main wobble base pairs are guanine-uracil (G-U), hypoxanthine-uracil (I-U), hypoxanthine-adenine (I-A), and hypoxanthine-cytosine (I-C). These wobble base pairs exhibit thermodynamic stability comparable to that of Watson-Crick base pairs.

Crick proposed that the 5′ base on the anticodon, which binds to the 3′ base on the mRNA codon, is more flexible spatially compared to the other two bases. This flexibility allows for non-standard base pairing and small conformational adjustments, resulting in the overall pairing geometry of tRNA anticodons.

Overall, the Wobble Hypothesis provides a mechanism to account for the degeneracy of the genetic code and the ability of a limited number of tRNA molecules to recognize and bind to multiple codons. The wobbling of the third base allows for greater flexibility in genetic coding while maintaining the accuracy of translation.

Definition of Wobble Hypothesis

The Wobble Hypothesis proposes that the third base of a codon and the anticodon of tRNA can exhibit flexibility or “wobble” in their base pairing, allowing a single tRNA molecule to recognize and bind to multiple codons, contributing to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

The Wobble Hypothesis

Key points of the wobble hypothesis, implications of the wobble hypothesis, wobble base pairs, understanding wobble base pairs, significance of wobble base pairs, key points to remember, short exaplanation of the wobble hypothesis.

The Wobble Hypothesis is a concept that explains how the genetic code, stored in the form of nucleotides, is translated into proteins by the ribosome. To understand this hypothesis, we need to know a little bit about codons and anticodons.

In other words, the third base of the codon and the first base of the anticodon can form “wobble” pairs that do not strictly follow the A-U and G-C base-pairing rules. This flexibility allows the anticodon of a single tRNA molecule to recognize and bind to more than one codon with different nucleotide sequences at the third position.

So, in summary, the Wobble Hypothesis proposes that the third base of the codon and the first base of the anticodon can form non-standard base pairs, leading to a more flexible set of base-pairing rules at the third position of the codon. This flexibility allows a single tRNA molecule to recognize and bind to multiple codons with different nucleotide sequences at the third position, optimizing protein synthesis.

Importance of the Wobble Hypothesis

Case study: escherichia coli, examples of wobble hypothesis, example 1: codon recognition by trna, example 2: redundancy in the genetic code, example 3: practical implications in escherichia coli, example 4: minimizing mutational impact, example 5: biotechnology and genetic engineering, quiz on wobble hypothesis.

What does the Wobble Hypothesis explain? a) The structure of DNA b) The replication of DNA c) The flexibility in the pairing of the third base of the codon d) The synthesis of proteins

Who proposed the Wobble Hypothesis? a) Rosalind Franklin b) James Watson c) Francis Crick d) Maurice Wilkins

According to the Wobble Hypothesis, which position of the codon shows flexibility in base pairing? a) First b) Second c) Third d) Fourth

Which base can pair with multiple bases according to the Wobble Hypothesis? a) Adenine b) Cytosine c) Guanine d) Thymine

The Wobble Hypothesis helps to explain why: a) There are more codons than amino acids b) There are more amino acids than codons c) Codons are always of fixed length d) DNA is double-stranded

Which of the following is NOT a valid wobble pairing? a) G-U b) A-U c) I-A d) C-G

The Wobble Hypothesis reduces the need for: a) Multiple DNA strands b) Multiple types of amino acids c) Multiple types of tRNAs d) Multiple types of ribosomes

Inosine (I) can pair with which of the following bases? a) Adenine b) Cytosine c) Both Adenine and Cytosine d) Neither Adenine nor Cytosine

The Wobble Hypothesis is primarily associated with: a) DNA replication b) Transcription c) Translation d) DNA repair

The flexibility in base pairing, as proposed by the Wobble Hypothesis, occurs between: a) mRNA codon and DNA template b) mRNA codon and tRNA anticodon c) tRNA anticodon and DNA template d) tRNA anticodon and ribosomal RNA

What is the wobble hypothesis?

Why is it called the “wobble” hypothesis.

It is named the “wobble” hypothesis because the base at the wobble position is not spatially confined like the other two bases in the anticodon, allowing it to wobble or move unsteadily and form non-standard base pairs.

How does the wobble hypothesis explain degeneracy in the genetic code?

The wobble hypothesis suggests that the relaxed base-pairing rules at the third position of the codon allow a single tRNA molecule to recognize more than one codon. This accounts for the degeneracy or redundancy of the genetic code.

What are the main wobble base pairs?

Why is hypoxanthine used in wobble base pairs.

Hypoxanthine is used to represent wobble base pairs because it is the nucleobase of inosine, which displays the true qualities of wobble by allowing for pairing with multiple bases in the original codon.

How does the wobble hypothesis impact protein synthesis?

The wobble base pairing allows for faster dissociation of tRNA from mRNA during protein synthesis, facilitating the movement of ribosomes and enhancing the efficiency of translation.

What role do wobble base pairs play in RNA secondary structure?

Does the wobble hypothesis affect the accuracy of the genetic code.

Yes, the wobble hypothesis helps to minimize errors in the interpretation of the genetic code. It ensures that even if there is a mismatch at the wobble position, the correct amino acid can still be incorporated during protein synthesis.

How does the wobble hypothesis impact the number of tRNA molecules needed?

The wobble hypothesis allows a single tRNA molecule to recognize multiple codons due to non-standard pairings. This broad specificity reduces the number of unique tRNA molecules required for translation.

How has the wobble hypothesis contributed to our understanding of molecular biology?

Related posts, mitochondrial dna (mtdna) – structure, replication mechanism, factors, karyotyping – definition, steps, procedure and applications, codon chart and codon table, karyotype and idiogram – definition, procedure, steps, applications, chargaff’s rules – first and second rule, what is dihybrid cross examples, steps, importance, dna polymerase ii – definition, structure, mechanism, functions, dna polymerase iii (holoenzyme), leave a comment cancel reply.

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In this article we will discuss about the concept of wobble hypothesis.

Crick (1966) proposed the ‘wobble hypothesis’ to explain the degeneracy of the genetic code. Except for tryptophan and methionine, more than one codons direct the synthesis of one amino acid. There are 61 codons that synthesise amino acids, therefore, there must be 61 tRNAs each having different anticodons. But the total number of tRNAs is less than 61.

This may be explained that the anticodons of some tRNA read more than one codon. In addition, identity of the third codon seems to be unimportant. For example CGU, CGC, CGA and CGG all code for arginine. It appears that CG specifies arginine and the third letter is not important. Conventionally, the codons are written from 5′ end to 3′ end.

Therefore, the first and second bases specify amino acids in some cases. According to the Wobble hypothesis, only the first and second bases of the triple codon on 5′ → ‘3 mRNA pair with the bases of the anticodon of tRNA i.e A with U, or G with C.

The pairing of the third base varies according to the base at this position, for example G may pair with U. The conventional pairing (A = U, G = C) is known as Watson-Crick pairing (Fig. 7.1) and the second abnormal pairing is called wobble pairing.

This was observed from the discovery that the anticodon of yeast alanine-tRNA contains the nucleoside inosine (a deamination product of adenosine) in the first position (5′ → 3′) that paired with the third base of the codon (5′ → 3′). Inosine was also found at the first position in other tRNAs e.g. isoleucine and serine.

The purine, inosine, is a wobble nucleotide and is similar to guanine which normally pairs with A, U and C. For example a glycine-tRNA with anticodon 5′-ICC-3′ will pair with glycine codons GGU, GGC, GGA and GGG (Fig 7.2). Similarly, a seryl-tRNA with anticodon 5′-IGA-3′ pairs with serine codons UCC, UCU and UCA (5-3′). The U at the wobble position will be able to pair with an adenine or a guanine.

According to Wobble hypothesis, allowed base pairings are given in Table 7.5:

Due to the Wobble base pairing one tRNA becomes able to recognise more than one codons for an individual amino acid. By direct sequence of several tRNA molecules, the wobble hypothesis is confirmed which explains the pattern of redundancy in genetic code in some anticodons (e.g. the anticodons containing U, I and G in the first position in 5’→ 3′ direction)

The seryl-tRNA anticodon (UCG) 5′-GCU-3′ base pairs with two serine codons, 5′-AGC-3′ and 5′-AGU-3′. Generally, Watson-Crick pairing occurs between AGC and GCU. However, in AGU and GCU pairing, hydrogen bonds are formed between G and U. Such abnormal pairing called ‘Wobble pairing’ is given in Table 7.5.

Three types of wobble pairings have been proposed:

(i) U in the wobble position of the tRNA anticodon pairs with A or G of codon,

(ii) G pairs with U or C, and

(iii) 1 pairs with A, U or C.

Related Articles:

• Short Notes on Anticodons | Genetics
• Genetic Code: Degeneracy and Universality | Protein

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Wobble Pair

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A wobble pair, or wobble base pair, is a hydrogen-bonded pairing between two nucleotides generally occurring between two RNA molecules. These base pairs are geometrically distinct from the canonical Watson-Crick-type base-pairing. The main wobble base pairs are hypoxanthine-uracil (I-U, where I represents inosine, the nucleoside formed from hypoxanthine), guanine-uracil (G-U), hypoxanthine-adenine (I-A), and hypoxanthine-cytosine (I-C). Wobble base pairs are of comparable thermodynamic stability to Watson-Crick base pairs. Wobble base pairs occur frequently in RNA secondary structure and are important for proper translation of the genetic code.

In 1966, Francis Crick proposed the Wobble hypothesis to account for the fact that most organisms do not seem to have as many tRNA molecules as would be required for complete translation of the genetic code. There are 64 possible codons in the genetic code. During translation, each of these codons requires a tRNA molecule with a...

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Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-IE-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan

Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II

Institute for Advanced Study, 1 Einstein Drive, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA

Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, 2800 Woodley Rd. NW #544, Washington, DC, 20008, USA

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Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Ricardo Amils

Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

Muriel Gargaud

Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

José Cernicharo Quintanilla

Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Henderson James Cleaves

Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

William M. Irvine

Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

Daniele Pinti

Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

Michel Viso

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Cleaves, H.J.(. (2014). Wobble Pair. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_5248-1

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• The Genetic Code
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What is Wobble Hypothesis?

• The multiple codes for a given amino acid( degeneracy )
• Possible suppression of point mutations in the third base of the codon
• More easily removed deacylated tRNA during protein synthesis.
• Fewer tRNA molecules than expected.

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What is the wobble theory?

Wobble theory: the crick wobble hypothesis attributes the phenomenon of codon degeneracy to an imprecise pairing of the codon's third base and the anticodon's first base. the pairing features of several wobble bases, both seen and undiscovered, are investigated in this theoretical work. the genetic code is degenerate, which means that one amino acid is coded by several codons. to explain the degeneracy of codons in the third position of the codon. a wobble is defined as an unstable movement or a quiver in the voice..

What is the wobble effect?

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A theory to explain the partial degeneracy of the genetic code due to the fact that some t-RNA molecules can ...

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