Open AccessGenomics and the evolution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis.
Author(s) -
Benfang Ruan,
Ivan Ahel,
Alex Ambrogelly,
Hubert Dominique Becker,
Shipra Bunjun,
Liang Feng,
Debra Tumbula-Hansen,
Michael Ibba,
Dragana Korenčić,
Hiroyuki Kobayashi,
Clarisse Jacquin-Becker,
Nina Mejlhede,
Bokkee Min,
Gregory Raczniak,
Jesse Rinehart,
Constantinos Stathopoulos,
Tong Li,
Dieter Söll
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta biochimica polonica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.452
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1734-154X
pISSN - 0001-527X
DOI - 10.18388/abp.2001_3917
Subject(s) - transfer rna , genetic code , protein biosynthesis , aminoacyl trna synthetase , amino acid , ribosome , translation (biology) , biology , rna , genetics , ef tu , messenger rna , shine dalgarno sequence , biochemistry , gene
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.