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We are largely made of and by proteins, and proteins are made from long chains of small molecules called amino acids. There are 20 different common amino acids found in living cells. Just as you can link chains of letters together to form different words and sentences, you can link amino acids together to form different protein molecules. The order in which they are connected determines which protein they make. DNA encodes the amino acid sequences for the proteins that make living organisms, like us. Each of the 20 amino acids has been assigned a one letter code to represent it. Scientists use those codes to describe proteins with long chains of letters. I have used that code to encrypt special messages in these rings, spelling words with amino acids. I've created a stylized representation of the molecular structure, showing how the carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms are linked together. Engraved around the outside of the band is the repeating pattern of the backbone, the part that all the amino acids have in common and physically links them together. The unique part of each amino acid wraps around to the inside of the band where the message is spelled out. For example, the word "ETERNAL" is spelled out: Glutamic Acid (letter code E) Threonine (letter code T) Glutamic Acid again (letter code E) Arginine (letter code R) Asparagine (letter code N) Alanine (letter code A) Leucine (letter code L) The word "PEACE" is spelled out: Proline (P) Glutamic Acid (E) Alanine (A) Cysteine (C) Glutamic Acid (E) A short chain of amino acids, like this message, is called a peptide. Proteins are much longer chains, with anywhere from about 40 to 1800 amino acids. Note: Because there are only 20 coded amino acids, there are six letters left over that have no association (B J O U X Z). This limits the words that I can spell. click on the thumbnails to enlarge |
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