Extreme genetic code optimality from a molecular dynamics calculation of amino acid polar requirement

TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics to calculate amino acid polar requirements and demonstrates that the canonical genetic code is highly optimized for this measure, supporting an evolutionary origin from communal life.

Contribution

It introduces a molecular dynamics-based calculation of amino acid polar requirement and shows its optimization in the genetic code, providing new insights into code evolution.

Findings

The canonical genetic code is highly optimized for amino acid polar requirement.

Monte Carlo simulations show greater optimization than previous measures.

Results support the hypothesis of a communal origin of the genetic code.

Abstract

A molecular dynamics calculation of the amino acid polar requirement is presented and used to score the canonical genetic code. Monte Carlo simulation shows that this computational polar requirement has been optimized by the canonical genetic code more than any previously-known measure. These results strongly support the idea that the genetic code evolved from a communal state of life prior to the root of the modern ribosomal tree of life.