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tRNA synthetase: tRNA aminoacylation and beyond

2014; Wiley; Volume: 5; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/wrna.1224

1757-7012

Yan Ling Joy Pang, Kiran Poruri, Susan A. Martinis,

RNA Research and Splicing

The aminoacyl‐ tRNA synthetases are prominently known for their classic function in the first step of protein synthesis, where they bear the responsibility of setting the genetic code. Each enzyme is exquisitely adapted to covalently link a single standard amino acid to its cognate set of tRNA isoacceptors. These ancient enzymes have evolved idiosyncratically to host alternate activities that go far beyond their aminoacylation role and impact a wide range of other metabolic pathways and cell signaling processes. The family of aminoacyl‐ tRNA synthetases has also been suggested as a remarkable scaffold to incorporate new domains that would drive evolution and the emergence of new organisms with more complex function. Because they are essential, the tRNA synthetases have served as pharmaceutical targets for drug and antibiotic development. The recent unfolding of novel important functions for this family of proteins offers new and promising pathways for therapeutic development to treat diverse human diseases. WIREs RNA 2014, 5:461–480. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1224 This article is categorized under: RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA–Protein Complexes Translation > Translation Mechanisms RNA Processing > tRNA Processing