On the origin and evolution of the genetic code
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Lluis Ribas de Pouplana
IRBB Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona, Spain
lluis.ribas@irbbarcelona.org
The Genetic Code is the fundamental core of life. Its structure, and the
molecular features of its associated machinery hold essential information
about the origin of species. Our laboratory is focused on the evolution
and molecular function of central components of the translation machinery.
Through the study of these proteins and RNAs we try to build proposals on the
origin and evolution of the Genetic Code and how it drove the differentiation of extant phyla.
Recent publications:
Rafels-Ybern À, Torres AG, Camacho N, Herencia-Ropero A, Roura Frigolé H, Wulff TF, Raboteg M, Bordons A, Grau-Bove X, Ruiz-Trillo I, Ribas de Pouplana L. (2019) “The expansion of Inosine at the wobble position of tRNAs, and its role in the evolution of proteomes.“ Mol. Biol. Evol.doi: 10.1093/molbev/msy245.
Saint-Léger A, Bello-Cabrera C, Dans PD, Torres AG, Novoa EM, Camacho N, Orozco M, Kondrashov FA, Ribas de Pouplana L. (2016) “Saturation of recognition elements blocks evolution of new tRNA identities” Science Advances 29;2(4):e1501860.
Novoa EM, Pavon-Eternod M, Pan T, Ribas de Pouplana L. (2012) “A role for tRNA modifications in genome structure and codon usage.” Cell. Vol. 149, no. 1, pp 202-213.