Genomics and the evolution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis.

• Authors: Benfang Ruan , Ivan Ahel , Alex Ambrogelly , Hubert D Becker , Shipra Bunjun , Liang Feng , Debra Tumbula-Hansen , Michael Ibba , Dragana Korencic , Hiroyuki Kobayashi , Clarisse Jacquin-Becker , Nina Mejlhede , Bokkee Min , Gregory Raczniak , Jesse Rinehart , Constantinos Stathopoulos , Tong Li , Dieter Söll
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Translation is the process by which ribosomes direct protein synthesis using the genetic information contained in messenger RNA (mRNA). Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are charged with an amino acid and brought to the ribosome, where they are paired with the corresponding trinucleotide codon in mRNA. The amino acid is attached to the nascent polypeptide and the ribosome moves on to the next codon. Thus, the sequential pairing of codons in mRNA with tRNA anticodons determines the order of amino acids in a protein. It is therefore imperative for accurate translation that tRNAs are only coupled to amino acids corresponding to the RNA anticodon. This is mostly, but not exclusively, achieved by the direct attachment of the appropriate amino acid to the 3'-end of the corresponding tRNA by the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. To ensure the accurate translation of genetic information, the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases must display an extremely high level of substrate specificity. Despite this highly conserved function, recent studies arising from the analysis of whole genomes have shown a significant degree of evolutionary diversity in aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis. For example, non-canonical routes have been identified for the synthesis of Asn-tRNA, Cys-tRNA, Gln-tRNA and Lys-tRNA. Characterization of non-canonical aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis has revealed an unexpected level of evolutionary divergence and has also provided new insights into the possible precursors of contemporary aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.

Keywords

EN

evolution; tRNA; aminoacyl-tRNA; translation; protein synthesis

• Publisher: Polish Biochemical Society
• Journal: Acta Biochimica Polonica
• Year: 2001
• Volume: 48
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 313-321

Dates

published

2001

received

2001-02-14

Contributors

author

Benfang Ruan

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Ivan Ahel

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Alex Ambrogelly

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Hubert D Becker

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Shipra Bunjun

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Liang Feng

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Debra Tumbula-Hansen

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Michael Ibba

• Center for Biomolecular Recognition, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Laboratory B, The Panum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark

author

Dragana Korencic

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Hiroyuki Kobayashi

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Clarisse Jacquin-Becker

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Nina Mejlhede

• Center for Biomolecular Recognition, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Laboratory B, The Panum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark

author

Bokkee Min

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Gregory Raczniak

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Jesse Rinehart

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Constantinos Stathopoulos

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Tong Li

• Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

author

Dieter Söll

• Departments of Chemistry; Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.

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