These authors contributed equally to this work
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Amino acid modifications on tRNA†
Article first published online: 16 JUL 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7270.2008.00435.x
© 2008 Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SIBS, CAS
Additional Information
How to Cite
Yuan, J., Sheppard, K. and Söll, D. (2008), Amino acid modifications on tRNA. Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica, 40: 539–553. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7270.2008.00435.x
- †
This work is dedicated to late Prof. Ying-Lai Wang who during the 1960s and 1970s performed an invaluable service to the continued practice of biochemistry in China with his research on the chemical synthesis of alanine tRNA
Publication History
- Issue published online: 16 JUL 2008
- Article first published online: 16 JUL 2008
- Received: March 26, 2008 Accepted: April 15, 2008
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- aminoacyl-tRNA;
- indirect pathways;
- tRNA-dependent amidotransferase;
- tRNA-dependent cysteine biosynthesis;
- selenocysteine biosynthesis
The accurate formation of cognate aminoacyl-transfer RNAs (aa-tRNAs) is essential for the fidelity of translation. Most amino acids are esterified onto their cognate tRNA isoacceptors directly by aa-tRNA synthetases. However, in the case of four amino acids (Gln, Asn, Cys and Sec), aminoacyl-tRNAs are made through indirect pathways in many organisms across all three domains of life. The process begins with the charging of noncognate amino acids to tRNAs by a specialized synthetase in the case of Cys-tRNACys formation or by synthetases with relaxed specificity, such as the non-di scr iminating glutamyl-tRNA, non-disc rimi nati ng aspartyl-tRNA and seryl-tRNA synthetases. The resulting misacylated tRNAs are then converted to cognate pairs through transformation of the amino acids on the tRNA, which is catalyzed by a group of tRNA-dependent modifying enzymes, such as tRNA-dependent amidotransferases, Sep-tRNA:Cys-tRNA synthase, O-phosphoseryl-tRNA kinase and Sep-tRNA:Sec-tRNA synthase. The majority of these indirect pathways are widely spread in all domains of life and thought to be part of the evolutionary process.