From one amino acid to another: tRNA-dependent amino acid biosynthesis
Aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNAs) are the essential substrates for translation. Most aa-tRNAs are formed by direct aminoacylation of tRNA catalyzed by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. However, a smaller number of aa-tRNAs (Asn-tRNA, Gln-tRNA, Cys-tRNA and Sec-tRNA) are made by synthesizing the amino acid on the...
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Published in | Nucleic acids research Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 1813 - 1825 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
England
Oxford University Press
01.04.2008
Oxford Publishing Limited (England) |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNAs) are the essential substrates for translation. Most aa-tRNAs are formed by direct aminoacylation of tRNA catalyzed by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. However, a smaller number of aa-tRNAs (Asn-tRNA, Gln-tRNA, Cys-tRNA and Sec-tRNA) are made by synthesizing the amino acid on the tRNA by first attaching a non-cognate amino acid to the tRNA, which is then converted to the cognate one catalyzed by tRNA-dependent modifying enzymes. Asn-tRNA or Gln-tRNA formation in most prokaryotes requires amidation of Asp-tRNA or Glu-tRNA by amidotransferases that couple an amidase or an asparaginase to liberate ammonia with a tRNA-dependent kinase. Both archaeal and eukaryotic Sec-tRNA biosynthesis and Cys-tRNA synthesis in methanogens require O-phosophoseryl-tRNA formation. For tRNA-dependent Cys biosynthesis, O-phosphoseryl-tRNA synthetase directly attaches the amino acid to the tRNA which is then converted to Cys by Sep-tRNA: Cys-tRNA synthase. In Sec-tRNA synthesis, O-phosphoseryl-tRNA kinase phosphorylates Ser-tRNA to form the intermediate which is then modified to Sec-tRNA by Sep-tRNA:Sec-tRNA synthase. Complex formation between enzymes in the same pathway may protect the fidelity of protein synthesis. How these tRNA-dependent amino acid biosynthetic routes are integrated into overall metabolism may explain why they are still retained in so many organisms. |
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Bibliography: | ArticleID:gkn015 The authors wish it to be known that, in their opinion, the first two authors should be regarded as joint First Authors ark:/67375/HXZ-DRXJSNK5-T istex:E69062734E920DEE87D2686BC96CC66B80B1E9E0 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ObjectType-Feature-3 ObjectType-Review-2 QLG2-CT-1999–01455; SC/02/109; GM22854 USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division European Commission (EC) Enterprise Ireland National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
ISSN: | 0305-1048 1362-4962 |
DOI: | 10.1093/nar/gkn015 |