Cell Language Theory, The: Connecting Mind And Matter

Matrix Mathematics of Genetics 241

“6x9” b2861 The Cell Language Theory: Connecting Mind and Matter

the amino acid sequence, entirely different folding patterns of the protein can

be obtained (see the related discussion in Section 2.5).

The total number of three-dimensional proteins encoded in the

genome may be estimated to be N*M = (10^130 )*(10^30 ) = 10160 , where N is

the number of 1D proteins (estimated to be 10^40 based on the assumption

that the number of amino acids in a typical protein is 100 and each posi-

tion in the protein can be occupied by any one of the 20 amino acids,

resulting in 20^100 or ~ 10130 ) and M is the number of 3D proteins (estimated

to be ~ 1030 based on the assumption that there are at least two conforma-

tional states available at each amino acid position of a 100-amino acid

protein, leading to 2^100 or ~ 1030 ). Hence, the total number of intracellular

processes that can be encoded in the genome may be at least 10^160. These

ideas are summarized in Table 5.1. The key point of this table is to connect

the molecular structures of the four Watson–Crick nucleotides (i.e., the

cell-language alphabet; see the upper left corner of Table 5.1; equilibrium

Table 5.1 The postulated multiplicity of the genetic codes and their possible characteristics.

Genetic

Code

Molecular

Alphabet

# of

Letters Equilibronsa Dissipatonsb

Linguistic

Articulations

First Second Thirdf

First A, C, G, T/U 4 1 0 0 1 0

Second Amino acids 20 1 0 1 0 0

Third 1D polypeptides > 10 130c 1 0 0 1 0

Fourth 3D conformations/

protein

> 10 30d 1 0 1 0 0

Fifth Intracellular

chemical and

other gradients

< 10 320e 0 1 0 0 1

aEquilibrium structures denoted as 1.

bDissipative structures denoted as 0.

cAssuming that a polypeptide has 100 amino acids covalently linked linearly and each position can be

occupied by any one of the 20 amino acids.

dAssuming that each of the 100 amino acids in a polypeptide can be added by the ribosome in at least

two conformations.

eAssuming that each intracellular gradient (e.g., Ca2+, ATP, Pi gradients, etc.) requires at least two

enzymes cooperating, i.e., (10^160 )^2 = 10320.

fFor the definition of the third articulation in cell language, see Section 4.6.

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