DNA Music – Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG)
How the Assembly of MOG Protein in the Ribosome Sounds from mRNA, Translated into Notes and Performed on Various Instruments
Introduction
Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is one of the key components of myelin, the thin protective sheath around nerve fibers. It plays a role in the formation, stabilization, and immune recognition of myelin in the human central nervous system.
In the Adaris Genome Music Project, we convert protein structures into musical forms to make molecular processes audible, transforming the hidden biochemistry of the nervous system into sonic images.
Today, you are hearing the musical portrait of the MOG protein, created based on its amino acid sequence.
How the Melody of the MOG Protein is Created
MOG is a membrane glycoprotein. Its amino acid sequence includes:
- Signal peptide – the starting segment that sets the rhythmic beginning;
- Extracellular domain – rich in variability, creating melodic fluctuations;
- Transmembrane segment – dense, low-tonal musical block;
- Cytoplasmic tail – short, completed finale of the composition.
To transform biochemistry into sound, a sonic mapping system is used:
Musical Translation Rules
- Hydrophobic amino acids → low and soft timbres: cello, viola, double bass;
- Polar residues → medium notes: piano, oboe, marimba;
- Charged amino acids → bright, accented instruments: violin, flute, xylophone;
- Signal peptide → percussive introductory impulse;
- Loops and bends → arpeggio or short melodic passage;
- Transmembrane domain → low-frequency, “dense” musical texture;
- Glycosylation sites → light, airy chimes.
Thus, each amino acid becomes a note, and each domain – a musical phrase.
How the MOG Protein Sounds
The MOG melody reflects the features of the protein’s structure:
- The start of the signal peptide sounds like a bright introduction – short accented strikes, marking the beginning of synthesis.
- The extracellular part turns into a dynamic melodic line: changes in pitch, alternation of bright and soft instruments, as if music “on the cell surface.”
- The transmembrane segment creates a dense, stable bass layer – a drop in frequencies, immersion into depth, corresponding to penetration through the membrane.
- The cytoplasmic tail ends with a soft, almost chamber motif – a small but functionally important concluding phrase.
The overall MOG composition is the melody of myelin, its structure, and interaction with the immune system.
It sounds simultaneously soft, stable, and tense, like music reflecting the balance of protection, stability, and vulnerability.
What Are You Hearing?
You are hearing a musical model of the MOG protein assembly on the ribosome.
This is a sonic reflection of the real biochemical process:
- Codon → note
- Amino acid → musical timbre
- Protein domain → musical phrase
- Protein structure → composition
MOG transforms into an audio symbol of the myelin layer and neuronal conductivity.
Source of the Genetic Segment
Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) [Homo sapiens]
Source of the sequence (mRNA → protein):