Genome Music: How the Assembly of Human Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) Sounds When Translated from mRNA
Introduction
The Genome Music Adaris Project transforms molecular biology into sound. Every protein in the human body is built inside the ribosome – a molecular “factory” that reads messenger RNA (mRNA) and assembles a chain of amino acids.
This process can be experienced not only visually or conceptually, but also sonically, by converting the amino acid sequence into notes, rhythms, and instrumental colors.
In this work, the human MBP (Myelin Basic Protein) gene was translated into a musical composition. MBP is a key structural component of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers and is essential for fast neural signal transmission.
What Exactly Was Translated into Music
The foundation of the composition is an amino acid sequence derived from the mRNA of the human MBP gene.
Source Data
- Organism: Homo sapiens
- Gene: MBP
- Transcript: Variant 1
- Data type: mRNA → amino acid sequence
- Reference sequence: NCBI entry NM_001025081
Translated Amino Acid Fragment
MASQKRPSQRHGSKYLATASTMDHARHGFLPRHRDTGILDSIGRFFGGDRGAPKRGSGKVPWLKPGRSPLPSHARSQPGLCNMYKDSHHPARTAHYGSLPQKSHGRTQDENPVVHFFKNIVTPRTPPPSQGKGRGLSLSRFSWGAEGQRPGFGYGGRASDYKSAHKGFKGVDAQGTLSKIFKLGGRDSRSGSPMARRThis “score of amino acids” was transformed into the musical narrative you hear in the composition.
How Protein Assembly Sounds Inside the Ribosome
Biological translation is the stepwise addition of amino acids to a growing polypeptide chain. In the musical analogue:
- each amino acid corresponds to a note,
- structural motifs become musical phrases,
- chemical properties influence instruments and timbres.
This allows the process of protein assembly to be heard, revealing the hidden “music” within molecular biology.
Musical Mapping of Amino Acids
The sonification system used in this project followed the mapping below:
- Charged amino acids → bright, high-pitched tones (strings, flute)
- Hydrophobic amino acids → deep, low sounds (cello, synthesized bass)
- Aromatic amino acids → chords (piano, organ)
- Glycine & proline (structural turns) → sharp, percussive clicks representing ribosomal motion
- Domain boundaries → shifts in rhythm, dynamics, or instrumentation
Through this mapping, translation becomes a musical journey, and the protein’s structure becomes a melody.
Why the MBP Gene Produces a Unique Musical Texture
Myelin Basic Protein is one of the most unusual proteins in the human body. It is:
- rich in arginine, lysine, and histidine (positively charged residues),
- intrinsically disordered, lacking a stable folded structure,
- biologically essential for stabilizing the myelin sheath surrounding neurons.
Musically, this results in:
- frequent bright high notes,
- rapid transitions between motifs,
- a dense, energetic texture,
- a feeling of “nervous excitation” – mirroring MBP’s role in neural conduction.
In the music, one can hear how the protein “wraps” around myelin membranes, forming a structure that enables fast signal transmission.
How the Final Composition Was Created
Step 1. Retrieving the mRNA Sequence
The reference sequence NM_001025081 was downloaded from the NCBI database.
Step 2. Translating mRNA into Amino Acids
Each codon (three nucleotides) was converted into one amino acid.
Step 3. Assigning Musical Attributes
A dedicated mapping system linked nucleotides, amino acids, and musical parameters such as pitch, rhythm, and timbre.
Step 4. Building the Musical Structure
- Rhythm → ribosomal speed
- Timbre → chemical properties
- Musical phrases → structural segments of the protein
- Dynamics → functional characteristics
The resulting composition reflects both the biochemical process and the biological significance of MBP.
Conclusion
The musical interpretation of the MBP gene allows us to hear what normally occurs silently inside cells. This is not a metaphorical melody – it is a true sonic representation of translation, the step-by-step assembly of a protein essential for human neural function.
The Genome Music Adaris Project shows that biology can be not only seen but also heard – and that every molecule of life carries its own unique sound signature.