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Control and function of lysyl‐tRNA synthetases: diversity and co‐ordination
Author(s) -
Nakamura Yoshikazu,
Ito Koichi
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1993.tb01948.x
Subject(s) - biology , regulon , transfer rna , gene , mechanism (biology) , function (biology) , genetics , translation (biology) , enhancer , regulation of gene expression , leucine , gene expression , messenger rna , rna , amino acid , philosophy , epistemology
Summary Lysyl‐tRNA synthetases are synthesized from two distinct genes in Escherichia coli, lysS (constitutively) and lysU (inducibly); however, the physiological significance and the differential control mechanism of these two genes have been a long‐standing puzzle. Recent studies have successfully uncovered a significant control mechanism of lysU expression, which involves the leucine‐responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) and a translational enhancer element called‘downstream box'. Moreover, it is likely that there is a mechanism underlying co‐ordinate expression of lysU with other genes outside the leucine‐Lrp regulon under harsh conditions such as low pH and anaerobiosis. A possible mechanism of lysyl‐tRNA synthetase expression and function is reviewed.