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The plant aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Effect of sodium chloride on tRNA aminoacylation and aminoacyl-tRNA decomposition catalysed by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases from yellow lupin seeds.

The initial velocity and the extent of aminoacylation are affected by sodium chloride in the lupin aminoacylation systems involving serine, isoleucine, lysine, leucine, phenylalanine and valine. Pyrophosphorolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis of [14C]Val-tRNA catalysed by lupin valyl-tRNA synthetase are inhibited by sodium chloride nearly to the same extent. Evidence is presented that when a limiting amount of synthetase is used, the equilibrium of the aminoacylation reaction in the lupin valine system is determined only by the rate of aminoacylation and non-enzymatic deacylation of aminoacyl-tRNA, the former but not the latter reaction being dependent on concentration of the enzyme and monovalent salt.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Aminoacyl thioester chemistry of class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.

Lysyl-tRNA synthetase, a class II enzyme, edits homocysteine by converting it into homocysteine thiolactone. In a similar reaction, the enzyme converts homoserine into homoserine lactone. Other class II enzymes, aspartyl-tRNA synthetase and seryl-tRNA synthetase, do not edit any of the amino acids tested. However, all three class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyze AMP- and pyrophosphate-independent deacylation of cognate aminoacyl-tRNA in the presence of thiols, mimicking editing of homocysteine. Thiol-dependent deacylations exhibit saturation kinetics with respect to concentration of thiols, suggesting the presence of a thiol binding site on each enzyme. 3-Mercaptopropionate-, N-acetyl-L-cysteine-, and dithiothreitol-dependent deacylations of aminoacyl-tRNA yield corresponding aminoacyl thioesters. Cysteine-dependent enzymatic deacylations of aminoacyl-tRNA by these class II enzymes yield dipeptides, N-(aminoacyl)cysteine. The formation of N-(aminoacyl)cysteine involves thioester intermediates S-(aminoacyl)-L-cysteine, which are not observed because of the facile transacylation of the aminoacyl residue from the sulfur to the alpha-amino group of cysteine to form a stable peptide bond. These data indicate that class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases possess unique thiol-binding subsites within their active sites. That the thiol-binding subsite exists also in AspRS and SerRS, which do not need editing function, suggests that these class II enzymes possess vestigial editing functions.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Amino acid selectivity in the aminoacylation of coenzyme A and RNA minihelices by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.

Coenzyme A (CoA-SH), a cofactor in carboxyl group activation reactions, carries out a function in nonribosomal peptide synthesis that is analogous to the function of tRNA in ribosomal protein synthesis. The amino acid selectivity in the synthesis of aminoacyl-thioesters by nonribosomal peptide synthetases is relaxed, whereas the amino acid selectivity in the synthesis of aminoacyl-tRNA by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases is restricted. Here I show that isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase aminoacylates CoA-SH with valine, leucine, threonine, alanine, and serine in addition to isoleucine. Valyl-tRNA synthetase catalyzes aminoacylations of CoA-SH with valine, threonine, alanine, serine, and isoleucine. Lysyl-tRNA synthetase aminoacylates CoA-SH with lysine, leucine, threonine, alanine, valine, and isoleucine. Thus, isoleucyl-, valyl-, and lysyl-tRNA synthetases behave as aminoacyl-S-CoA synthetases with relaxed amino acid selectivity. In contrast, RNA minihelices comprised of the acceptor-TpsiC helix of tRNA(Ile) or tRNA(Val) were aminoacylated by cognate synthetases selectively with isoleucine or valine, respectively. These and other data support a hypothesis that the present day aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases originated from ancestral forms that were involved in noncoded thioester-dependent peptide synthesis, functionally similar to the present day nonribosomal peptide synthetases.

Alanine↗

A substrate-assisted concerted mechanism for aminoacylation by a class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) join amino acids to their cognate transfer RNAs, establishing an essential coding relationship in translation. To investigate the mechanism of aminoacyl transfer in class II Escherichia coli histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS), we devised a rapid quench assay. Under single turnover conditions with limiting tRNA, aminoacyl transfer proceeds at 18.8 s(-)(1), whereas in the steady state, the overall rate of aminoacylation is limited by amino acid activation to a rate of 3 s(-)(1). In vivo, this mechanism may serve to allow the size of amino acid pools and energy charge to control the rate of aminoacylation and thus protein synthesis. Aminoacyl transfer experiments using HisRS active site mutants and phosphorothioate-substituted adenylate showed that substitution of the nonbridging Sp oxygen of the adenylate decreased the transfer rate at least 10 000-fold, providing direct experimental evidence for the role of this group as a general base for the reaction. Other kinetic experiments revealed that the rate of aminoacyl transfer is independent of the interaction between the carboxyamide group of Gln127 and the alpha-carboxylate carbon, arguing against the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate during the aminoacyl transfer. These experiments support a substrate-assisted concerted mechanism for HisRS, a feature that may generalize to other aaRS, as well as the peptidyl transferase center.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Functional significance of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex in the aminoacylation of tRNA(Leu) isoacceptors.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, partially purified from rat liver by two different methods, were used in vitro to study aminoacylation profiles of tRNA(Leu) isoacceptors. On the basis of molecular weights, one preparation was similar to the multienzyme complex of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, whereas the other apparently represents a partially disrupted complex. In the aminoacylation assay, the multienzyme complex produced a profile of leucyl-tRNA isoacceptors that was similar to those found in vivo and in liver perfusion experiments. The aminoacylation profile that was obtained with the partially disrupted complex varied with the enzyme and leucine concentration used. Especially one of the tRNA(Leu) species was poorly aminoacylated at low leucine and enzyme concentration. These experiments point out that attention should be paid to the nature of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase preparation in experiments in which isoacceptor profiles are studied in vitro.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Non-enzymatic aminoacylation of an RNA minihelix with an aminoacyl phosphate oligonucleotide.

Efficient aminoacylation of an RNA minihelix (a proposed precursor of tRNA) was achieved without any ribozymes or protein enzymes. The reaction was promoted with a template-like bridging Oligonucleotide and a 5'-aminoacyl-phosphate-oligonucleotide. Aminoacylation was template-dependent and showed high preference for a particular ribose hydroxyl. The 5'-aminoacyl-phosphate-oligonucleotides have the same adenylate linkage as in aminoacyl-AMP--the universal intermediate used in modern aminoacylation systems with aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Thus, the results raise the possibility that this kind of system could have played a role in the transition from the RNA world to the theatre of proteins.

Aminoacylation↗

Transacylation rates of (aminoacyl)adenosine moiety at the 3'-terminus of aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid.

The rates of migration of the aminoacyl group (transacylation) between 2'-O-(aminoacyl)-tRNA and 3'-O-(aminoacyl)-tRNA were studied by the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses of 3'-terminal fragment models, with regard to the significance of transacylation in the process of protein biosynthesis. 2'(3')-O-L-Alanyladenosine, -valyladenosine, -isoleucyladenosine, -phenylalanyladenosine, and -methionyladenosine, and 2'(3')-O-L-phenylalanyladenosine 5'-phosphate and methionyladenosine 5'-phosphate were chemically synthesized, and the rates of transacylation in deuterated buffer were directly measured by the NMR saturation transfer method. The dependences of transacylation rates on p2H and temperature were analyzed. The results indicate that the transacylation rates are significantly affected by the ionization states of the alpha-amino group of the amino acid moiety but not by the presence of the 5'-phosphate group of the adenylate moiety. The second-order rate constants for the base-catalyzed transacylation reactions were also determined for the ionized form (with alpha-N2H3+ group) of (aminoacyl)adenosines. The transacylation rates of (aminoacyl)adenosines in 1H2O solution at p1H 7.3 and 37 degrees C (intracellular environment) were evaluated as 3-11 s-1 for the 2' leads to 3' transacylation and 1-4 s-1 for the 3' leads to 2' transacylation, indicating that the transacylation rate of free aminoacyl-tRNA is slower than the overall rate of polypeptide chain elongation per ribosome. This suggests the presence of some enzymatic factor for enhancing the transacylation rates of aminoacyl-tRNAs in the polypeptide chain elongation process in vivo.

Acetylation↗

Active site titration and aminoacyl adenylate binding stoichiometry of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.

A simple, rapid, and economical procedure is described for the determination of the number of catalytically competent active sites on aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases based on the stoichiometry of aminoacyl adenylate formation. On mixing tRNA synthetase, cognate amino acid, (gamma-32P)ATP, and inorganic pyrophosphatase under suitable conditions there is an initial rapid stoichiometric "burst" (rate constant k1) of depletion of ATP as enzyme bound aminoacyl adenylate is formed. There is then an initially linear decrease in ATP concentration as the complex hydrolyzes (with rate constant k2) releasing enzyme to form further adenylate. Provided k2 less than k1 the initial burst gives the stoichiometry of aminoacyl adenylate formation. Complexes which are too unstable to be isolated by the usual gel or nitrocellulose disk filtration procedure may be assayed in this way. This technique has been applied to five highly purified aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. The tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus is shown to bind only one aminoacyl adenylate per dimer.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Accuracy of in vivo aminoacylation requires proper balance of tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.

The fidelity of protein biosynthesis in any cell rests on the accuracy of aminoacylation of tRNA. The exquisite specificity of this reaction is critically dependent on the correct recognition of tRNA by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. It is shown here that the relative concentrations of a tRNA and its cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase are normally well balanced and crucial for maintenance of accurate aminoacylation. When Escherichia coli Gln-tRNA synthetase is overproduced in vivo, it incorrectly acylates the supF amber suppressor tRNA(Tyr) with Gln. This effect is abolished when the intracellular concentration of the cognate tRNA(Gln2) is also elevate. These data indicate that the presence of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and the cognate tRNAs in complexed form, which requires the proper balance of the two macromolecules, is critical in maintaining the fidelity of protein biosynthesis. Thus, limits exist on the relative levels of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases within a cell.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Competition of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for tRNA ensures the accuracy of aminoacylation.

The accuracy of protein biosynthesis rests on the high fidelity with which aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases discriminate between tRNAs. Correct aminoacylation depends not only on identity elements (nucleotides in certain positions) in tRNA (1), but also on competition between different synthetases for a given tRNA (2). Here we describe in vivo and in vitro experiments which demonstrate how variations in the levels of synthetases and tRNA affect the accuracy of aminoacylation. We show in vivo that concurrent overexpression of Escherichia coli tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase abolishes misacylation of supF tRNA(Tyr) with glutamine in vivo by overproduced glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. In an in vitro competition assay, we have confirmed that the overproduction mischarging phenomenon observed in vivo is due to competition between the synthetases at the level of aminoacylation. Likewise, we have been able to examine the role competition plays in the identity of a non-suppressor tRNA of ambiguous identity, tRNA(Glu). Finally, with this assay, we show that the identity of a tRNA and the accuracy with which it is recognized depend on the relative affinities of the synthetases for the tRNA. The in vitro competition assay represents a general method of obtaining qualitative information on tRNA identity in a competitive environment (usually only found in vivo) during a defined step in protein biosynthesis, aminoacylation. In addition, we show that the discriminator base (position 73) and the first base of the anticodon are important for recognition by E. coli tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Prevention of mis-aminoacylation of a dual-specificity aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.

Accurate aminoacylation of tRNAs by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase is essential for the fidelity of protein synthesis. For Methanococcus jannaschii tRNA(Pro), accuracy is difficult because the cognate prolyl-tRNA synthetase also recognizes and aminoacylates tRNA(Cys) with cysteine. We show here that the unmodified transcript of M. jannaschii tRNA(Pro) is indeed mis-acylated with cysteine. However, the origin of mis-charging is not at the anticodon or acceptor stem, the two hotspots for tRNA(Pro) and tRNA(Cys) identity determinants. Instead, replacement of the D loop in the tRNA core with that of tRNA(Cys) suppresses mis-charging with cysteine without compromising the activity of aminoacylation with proline. The reduced level of cysteine activity of the chimera is not due an editing response of the synthetase and is consistent with a relaxed sensitivity of the tRNA to the analog thiaproline in aminoacylation with cysteine. We suggest that mis-acylation is not due to the presence of cysteine determinants, but to a mis-placed 3' end into the cysteine catalytic site that activates and transfers cysteine to the tRNA. Prevention of mis-placement by alteration of the core structure or by nucleotide modifications in the tRNA illustrates a novel strategy of the dual-specificity synthetase.

Acylation↗

Myocardial aminoacyl-transfer-ribonucleic acid synthetase and aminoacyl-transferring enzyme activity.

The properties of cytoplasmic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and aminoacyl-transferring enzymes in the myocardium were examined and methods for the assay of the activity of these enzyme systems were developed. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity was measured from the rate of incorporation of (14)C-labelled amino acid into aminoacyl-tRNA. Transferase activity was measured from the rate of incorporation of amino[(14)C]acyl-tRNA into protein in the presence of a standard preparation of hepatic ribosomes. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity is labile once the heart has been homogenized, whereas transferase activity is stable. The source of energy for synthetase activity is ATP; that for transferase is GTP. Transferase activity was inhibited by puromycin and stimulated by dithiothreitol, whereas synthetase activity was unaffected.

Acyltransferases↗

Intermediate reactions in the binding of aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid to rat liver ribosomes. Formation and properties of an aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid-transferase I complex.

1. Transferase I of rat liver binds aminoacyl-tRNA to form a relatively stable complex, which is retained on cellulose nitrate filters. This reaction proceeds at both 0 degrees C and 37 degrees C and is inhibited by GTP. The resulting product is stabilized by GTP and Mg(2+). 2. Only very low quantities of deacylated tRNA are bound by transferase I. 3. Methods are described for the preparative isolation of the transferase I-aminoacyl-tRNA complex from incubation mixtures by using ion-exchange procedures. 4. The transferase I-aminoacyl-tRNA complex becomes readily bound to ribosomes. The presence of Mg(2+) is essential for the binding. GTP stimulates this reaction but is not absolutely required. 5. It is concluded that the formation of the transferase I-aminoacyl-tRNA complex may be the primary reaction in the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to mammalian ribosomes and that, unlike in bacterial systems, GTP is not absolutely required for this step.

Amino Acids↗

Aminoacylation of tRNA in the evolution of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyze aminoacylation of tRNAs by joining an amino acid to its cognate tRNA. The selection of the cognate tRNA is jointly determined by separate structural domains that examine different regions of the tRNA. The cysteine-tRNA synthetase of Escherichia coli has domains that select for tRNAs containing U73, the GCA anticodon, and a specific tertiary structure at the corner of the tRNA L shape. The E. coli enzyme does not efficiently recognize the yeast or human tRNACys, indicating the evolution of determinants for tRNA aminoacylation from E. coli to yeast to human and the coevolution of synthetase domains that interact with these determinants. By successively modifying the yeast and human tRNACys to ones that are efficiently aminoacylated by the E. coli enzyme, we have identified determinants of the tRNA that are important for aminoacylation but that have diverged in the course of evolution. These determinants provide clues to the divergence of synthetase domains. We propose that the domain for selecting U73 is conserved in evolution. In contrast, we propose that the domain for selecting the corner of the tRNA L shape diverged early, after the separation between E. coli and yeast, while that for selecting the GCA-containing anticodon loop diverged late, after the separation between yeast and human.

Acylation↗

Competition of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for tRNA ensures the accuracy of aminoacylation.

The accuracy of protein biosynthesis rests on the high fidelity with which aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases discriminate between tRNAs. Correct aminoacylation depends not only on identity elements (nucleotides in certain positions) in tRNA (1), but also on competition between different synthetases for a given tRNA (2). Here we describe in vivo and in vitro experiments which demonstrate how variations in the levels of synthetases and tRNA affect the accuracy of aminoacylation. We show in vivo that concurrent overexpression of Escherichia coli tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase abolishes misacylation of supF tRNA(Tyr) with glutamine in vivo by overproduced glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. In an in vitro competition assay, we have confirmed that the overproduction mischarging phenomenon observed in vivo is due to competition between the synthetases at the level of aminoacylation. Likewise, we have been able to examine the role competition plays in the identity of a non-suppressor tRNA of ambiguous identity, tRNA(Glu). Finally, with this assay, we show that the identity of a tRNA and the accuracy with which it is recognized depend on the relative affinities of the synthetases for the tRNA. The in vitro competition assay represents a general method of obtaining qualitative information on tRNA identity in a competitive environment (usually only found in vivo) during a defined step in protein biosynthesis, aminoacylation. In addition, we show that the discriminator base (position 73) and the first base of the anticodon are important for recognition by E. coli tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase.

Journal Article↗

Total tubulin and its aminoacylated and non-aminoacylated forms during the development of rat brain.

The amount of total tubulin in the soluble fraction of rat brain was measured by a method based on the purification of tubulin previously labeled by incorporation of [14C]tyrosine in the C terminus of its alpha-chain. The tubulin content decreased from 2.01 to 1.30 nmol/mg protein when the animals passed from 4 to 30 days of age and then remained practically constant. The amounts of aminoacylated and non-aminoacylated tubulin present in the soluble brain extracts were determined from the incorporation of [14C]tyrosine into the free acceptor sites of tubulin preparations, that were preincubated without carboxypeptidase A or with this enzyme to eliminate tyrosine and phenylalanine from the C terminus of the alpha-chain of tubulin. The values obtained were corrected for the inactivation of tubulin to accept [14C]tyrosine that occurred during the isolation and incubation of the soluble fractions. The ratio non-aminoacylated/aminoacylated tubulin increased from 1.62 +/- 0.03 in the 4-day-old rats to 2.11 +/- 0.17 in the 120-day-old rats. The aminoacylatable tubulin, that is the sum of aminoacylated plus non-aminoacylated tubulin, decreased from 1.71 to 0.75 nmol/mg protein from 4-day-old to 30-day-old rats respectively and then remained practically constant. The amount of aminoacylatable tubulin is lower than that of total soluble tubulin. Therefore there is a fraction of tubulin that is unable to accept tyrosine. This non-aminoacylatable tubulin fraction increases with the age of the animal so that in the 120-day-old rats this tubulin species accounts for 48% of the total soluble tubulin.

Aging↗

Inhibition of the aminoacylation of selected tRNA molecules by an estrogen-regulated factor on uterine ribosomes. Regulation of aminoacylation of tRNA by estrogens.

Administration of estradiol to ovariectomized mature rats for 1 h induces a transient increase in the peptide elongation rate on uterine ribosomes. An inhibitor of the peptide elongation rate, which appears to be regulated by estrogen treatment in vivo, can be extracted from ribosomes of estrogen-deprived rats. The extracted inhibitor or a native inhibitor-ribosome complex affects the rate of the peptide elongation reaction in a uterine cell-free protein synthesis system by inhibiting the ability of selected tRNAs in the assay to be charged with amino acids by their respective aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. The degree of inhibition of charging of the affected tRNAs ranges from 22% to 78%, the order of inhibition being Pro greater than Val greater than Arg greater than Try greater than Leu greater than Glu greater than Ile greater than Gly greater than His greater than Ser greater than Lys. Inhibition results from a specific dose-dependent, and presumably reversible, effect of the inhibitor on tRNA, but not on the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. The effect does not result from removal of A-C-C terminal nucleotides from the 3' end of tRNA, but does inhibit the ability of selected tRNAs to bind to the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. We propose that regulation of the peptide elongation rate on uterine ribosomes by estradiol occurs through the estradiol-induced inactivation of a ribosome-associated inhibitor, which causes a reversible alteration to selected tRNAs. The modified tRNAs are unable to bind to their respective aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase to become charged with an amino acid thus causing the availability of selected aminoacyl-tRNAs to become rate-limiting in the sequential elongation of peptides.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗