Premium
When transfer‐messenger RNA scars reveal its ancient origins
Author(s) -
Guyomar Charlotte,
Gillet Reynald
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/nyas.14035
Subject(s) - genetic code , ribosome , transfer rna , translation (biology) , messenger rna , rna , ef tu , biology , protein biosynthesis , microbiology and biotechnology , ribosome profiling , genetics , computational biology , gene
Abstract In bacteria, trans ‐translation is the primary quality control mechanism for rescuing ribosomes arrested during translation. This key process is universally conserved and plays a crucial role in the viability and virulence of all bacteria. It is performed by transfer‐messenger RNA (tmRNA) and its protein partner small protein B (SmpB). Here, we show that tmRNA is a key molecule that could have given birth to modern protein synthesis. The traces of an ancient RNA world persist in the structure of modern tmRNA, suggesting its old origins. Therefore, since it has both tRNA and mRNA functions, tmRNA could be the missing link that allowed modern genetic code to be read by the ribosome.