Review article

Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthesis in Methanogenic Archaea

Dragana Korenčić ; Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, P.O. Box 208114, 266 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
Ivan Ahel ; Department of Molecular Genetics, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, P.O. Box 180, HR-10002, Zagreb, Croatia
Dieter Söll ; Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA

Abstract

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) are essential for faithful translation of the genetic code and have long been studied intensively. Major discoveries explained basic principles of how amino acids are paired to their cognate tRNAs to ensure high fidelity of translation. However, advances in genomics instigated identification of novel enzymes and pathways to aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis. In that respect methanogenic Archaea are particularly prominent, most of which possess non-canonical routes to synthesis of Asn-tRNA, Cys-tRNA, Gln-tRNA and Lys-tRNA. Additionally, some methanogenic seryl-tRNA synthetases are only marginally related to their homologues outside the archaeal kingdom, while other AARSs exhibit multiplicity of their genes (LysRS, SerRS, PheRS). Therefore, methanogens represent an exciting group of organisms regarding aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis, attesting to high degree of evolutionary diversity.

Keywords

aminoacyl-tRNA; methanogenic Archaea; evolution; tRNA; translation

Hrčak ID:

178517

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/178517

Publication date:

12.12.2002.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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