Genome Music: What the Assembly of the Human RAD23A Protein Sounds Like
Introduction
In human cells, every protein is created from an exact molecular instruction encoded in mRNA sequences.
The Genome Music Project transforms this process – the ribosome’s work of protein synthesis into a musical composition where each amino acid becomes a note, and the structure of the protein emerges as rhythm and harmony.
This article presents a musical interpretation of the translation of the RAD23A gene, a protein that plays a central role in DNA repair and helps maintain genome stability.
What Exactly Is Translated Into Music
The basis of the musical project is the amino-acid sequence of the RAD23A protein, synthesized by the ribosome from human mRNA.
Source data:
- Gene: RAD23A
- Protein: RAD23 homolog A, nucleotide excision repair protein
- Transcript: transcript variant 2, mRNA
- NCBI reference: Homo sapiens RAD23A (NM_001270362)
- Process: mRNA codons → amino-acid sequence → musical sequence
Each amino acid becomes a musical element –
a note, duration, timbre, or rhythmic gesture.
Amino-Acid Sequence Used for Musical Translation
The full amino-acid sequence is taken directly from the official NCBI transcript NM_001270362 and is used entirely for generating the melody.
Every mRNA codon → an amino acid → a musical sound.
How RAD23A Translation Sounds Inside the Ribosome
The construction of RAD23A is a structured and expressive process – something that naturally lends itself to musical interpretation.
Step by step, the ribosome:
- reads three nucleotides at a time,
- matches each codon to an amino acid,
- links amino acids into a chain,
- forms a functional protein structure.
When translated into music:
- charged amino acids produce bright, accented tones,
- hydrophobic residues create low, soft notes,
- structural motifs become repeating rhythms,
- functional domains shape entire musical phrases.
Sonic Features of the RAD23A Protein
RAD23A is a key participant in nucleotide excision repair (NER) – the system that removes DNA damage caused by UV exposure and chemical agents.
From a musical perspective, this gives rise to several distinct traits:
1. Strong Structural Definition
RAD23A includes recognizable domains, such as the UBL domain and two UBA domains.
Musically, they sound like well-formed, clearly separated phrases.
2. A Mix of Calm and Tense Motifs
RAD23A interacts with the proteasome and the XPC complex.
This interplay appears in music as a contrast between steady “assembly” patterns and searching, probing motifs.
3. Rhythmic Repetition
The repeated architecture of UBA domains produces rhythmic patterns with gradual variations — almost like a recurring musical theme.
4. Flexible Sound Dynamics
Because RAD23A must bind to multiple molecular partners, the music conveys this flexibility through smooth transitions of instruments and registers.
As a whole, the RAD23A composition resembles a careful molecular scan –
a sound that “reads” the DNA for errors.
How the Musical Composition Was Built
1. Retrieving the RAD23A mRNA
The official NCBI transcript NM_001270362 was used as the source.
2. Performing Translation
Each codon was converted into a corresponding amino acid, which then became a musical marker.
3. Assigning Musical Parameters
For every amino acid we assigned:
- pitch,
- duration,
- instrumental timbre,
- dynamic accent.
Examples:
- lysine, arginine → bright high-register tones,
- leucine, isoleucine → deep stable notes,
- glycine → light, short sounds.
4. Constructing the Musical Structure
Musical sections correspond to:
- functional domains,
- the UBL region,
- the two UBA domains,
- the central flexible region.
Conclusion
The musical interpretation of the RAD23A gene reveals how a protein emerges from mRNA to protect our genome from damage.
The sound of RAD23A is a melody of repair – the music of searching for errors and executing precise molecular corrections.
The Genome Music Adaris Project makes visible (and audible) the rhythm, harmony, and structure of biological processes that are normally hidden inside the cell – the processes that sustain life.