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tRNA as an active chemical scaffold for diverse chemical transformations
Author(s) -
Francklyn Christopher S.,
Minajigi Anand
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.11.045
Subject(s) - transfer rna , amino acid , aminoacyl trna , rna , biochemistry , amino acyl trna synthetases , protein biosynthesis , serine , chemistry , aminoacyl trna synthetase , biology , phosphorylation , gene
During protein synthesis, tRNA serves as the intermediary between cognate amino acids and their corresponding RNA trinucleotide codons. Aminoacyl‐tRNA is also a biosynthetic precursor and amino acid donor for other macromolecules. AA‐tRNAs allow transformations of acidic amino acids into their amide‐containing counterparts, and seryl‐tRNA Ser donates serine for antibiotic synthesis. Aminoacyl‐tRNA is also used to cross‐link peptidoglycan, to lysinylate the lipid bilayer, and to allow proteolytic turnover via the N‐end rule. These alternative functions may signal the use of RNA in early evolution as both a biological scaffold and a catalyst to achieve a wide variety of chemical transformations.