Free-energy dissipation constrainst on the accuracy of enzymatic selections

1980 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Blomberg ◽  
M. Ehrenberg ◽  
C. G. Kurland

A bacterium incorporates amino acids into protein with an error frequency close to one in three thousand (Edelman & Gallant, 1977). Nevertheless, the structural differences between related amino acids are so small that it is difficult to see how they can be distinguished from each other with such accuracy (see, for example, Pauling, 1958).Indeed, the selection of amino acids during protein synthesis is carried out twice: first by the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and then by the codon-programmed ribosome. Each of these substrate selections is in fact a double selection. In the case of the synthetase both a particular amino acid and a corresponding cognate tRNA must be chosen to form the aminoacyl-tRNA. On the ribosome, the aminoacyl-tRNA must be matched with a cognate codon, and then the mRNA must be advanced by exactly one codon length to position the next codon in the appropriate ribosome site so that it too can be translated.

eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tammy J Bullwinkle ◽  
Noah M Reynolds ◽  
Medha Raina ◽  
Adil Moghal ◽  
Eleftheria Matsa ◽  
...  

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases use a variety of mechanisms to ensure fidelity of the genetic code and ultimately select the correct amino acids to be used in protein synthesis. The physiological necessity of these quality control mechanisms in different environments remains unclear, as the cost vs benefit of accurate protein synthesis is difficult to predict. We show that in Escherichia coli, a non-coded amino acid produced through oxidative damage is a significant threat to the accuracy of protein synthesis and must be cleared by phenylalanine-tRNA synthetase in order to prevent cellular toxicity caused by mis-synthesized proteins. These findings demonstrate how stress can lead to the accumulation of non-canonical amino acids that must be excluded from the proteome in order to maintain cellular viability.


1984 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 1603-1605 ◽  
Author(s):  
J W Chamberlain ◽  
J W Pollard ◽  
C P Stanners

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were subjected to severe amino acid starvation for histidine, leucine, methionine, asparagine, tyrosine, glutamine, valine, and lysine, using amino acid analogs or mutations in specific aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. At protein synthetic rates of less than 5%, in all cases, the newly synthesized proteins were found on two-dimensional electrophoretic gels to consist of a few intensely labeled spots, with the exception of lysine. This pattern could also be produced by strong inhibition of cytoplasmic protein synthesis with cycloheximide, and was abolished by preincubation with the mitochondrial protein synthesis inhibitor chloramphenicol. It appears therefore that the spots represent mitochondrial protein synthesis and that animal cells must have separate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for mitochondrial tRNAs corresponding to all these amino acids except, possibly, for lysine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 593
Author(s):  
Jingjing Wang ◽  
Alexander Berestetskiy ◽  
Qiongbo Hu

Destruxin A (DA), a hexa-cyclodepsipeptidic mycotoxin produced by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, exhibits insecticidal activities in a wide range of pests and is known as an innate immunity inhibitor. However, its mechanism of action requires further investigation. In this research, the interactions of DA with the six aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (ARSs) of Bombyx mori, BmAlaRS, BmCysRS, BmMetRS, BmValRS, BmIleRS, and BmGluProRS, were analyzed. The six ARSs were expressed and purified. The BLI (biolayer interferometry) results indicated that DA binds these ARSs with the affinity indices (KD) of 10−4 to 10−5 M. The molecular docking suggested a similar interaction mode of DA with ARSs, whereby DA settled into a pocket through hydrogen bonds with Asn, Arg, His, Lys, and Tyr of ARSs. Furthermore, DA treatments decreased the contents of soluble protein and free amino acids in Bm12 cells, which suggested that DA impedes protein synthesis. Lastly, the ARSs in Bm12 cells were all downregulated by DA stress. This study sheds light on exploring and answering the molecular target of DA against target insects.


Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1222
Author(s):  
Paul Kelly ◽  
Arundhati Kavoor ◽  
Michael Ibba

One integral step in the transition from a nucleic acid encoded-genome to functional proteins is the aminoacylation of tRNA molecules. To perform this activity, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) activate free amino acids in the cell forming an aminoacyl-adenylate before transferring the amino acid on to its cognate tRNA. These newly formed aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) can then be used by the ribosome during mRNA decoding. In Escherichia coli, there are twenty aaRSs encoded in the genome, each of which corresponds to one of the twenty proteinogenic amino acids used in translation. Given the shared chemicophysical properties of many amino acids, aaRSs have evolved mechanisms to prevent erroneous aa-tRNA formation with non-cognate amino acid substrates. Of particular interest is the post-transfer proofreading activity of alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) which prevents the accumulation of Ser-tRNAAla and Gly-tRNAAla in the cell. We have previously shown that defects in AlaRS proofreading of Ser-tRNAAla lead to global dysregulation of the E. coli proteome, subsequently causing defects in growth, motility, and antibiotic sensitivity. Here we report second-site AlaRS suppressor mutations that alleviate the aforementioned phenotypes, revealing previously uncharacterized residues within the AlaRS proofreading domain that function in quality control.


mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Shepherd ◽  
Michael Ibba

ABSTRACTAminoacyl-tRNA synthetases provide the first step in protein synthesis quality control by discriminating cognate from noncognate amino acid and tRNA substrates. While substrate specificity is enhanced in many instances bycis-andtrans-editing pathways, it has been revealed that in organisms such asStreptococcus pneumoniaesome aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases display significant tRNA mischarging activity. To investigate the extent of tRNA mischarging in this pathogen, the aminoacylation profiles of class I isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS) and class II lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) were determined. Pneumococcal IleRS mischarged tRNAIlewith both Val, as demonstrated in other bacteria, and Leu in a tRNA sequence-dependent manner. IleRS substrate specificity was achieved in an editing-independent manner, indicating that tRNA mischarging would only be significant under growth conditions where Ile is depleted. Pneumococcal LysRS was found to misaminoacylate tRNALyswith Ala and to a lesser extent Thr and Ser, with mischarging efficiency modulated by the presence of an unusual U4:G69 wobble pair in the acceptor stems of both pneumococcal tRNALysisoacceptors. Addition of thetrans-editing factor MurM, which also functions in peptidoglycan synthesis, reduced Ala-tRNALysproduction by LysRS, providing evidence for cross talk between the protein synthesis and cell wall biogenesis pathways. Mischarging of tRNALysby AlaRS was also observed, and this would provide additional potential MurM substrates. More broadly, the extensive mischarging activities now described for a number ofStreptococcus pneumoniaeaminoacyl-tRNA synthetases suggest that adaptive misaminoacylation may contribute significantly to the viability of this pathogen during amino acid starvation.IMPORTANCEStreptococcus pneumoniaeis a common causative agent of several debilitating and potentially life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and infectious endocarditis. Such infections are increasingly difficult to treat due to widespread development of penicillin resistance. High-level penicillin resistance is known to depend in part upon MurM, a protein involved in both aminoacyl-tRNA-dependent synthesis of indirect amino acid cross-linkages within cell wall peptidoglycan and in translation quality control. The involvement of MurM in both protein synthesis and antibiotic resistance identify it as a potential target for the development of new and potent antibiotics for pneumococcal infections. The goals of this work were to identify and characterizeS. pneumoniaepathways that can synthesize mischarged tRNAs and to relate these activities to expected changes in protein and peptidoglycan biosynthesis during antibiotic and nutritional stress.


1990 ◽  
Vol 613 (1 Enzyme Engine) ◽  
pp. 489-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
BEN'ICHIRO TONOMURA ◽  
MAKOTO KAKITANI ◽  
YUJI OHKUBO ◽  
HIDEAKI SHIMA ◽  
KEITARO HIROMI

2001 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Ruan ◽  
I Ahel ◽  
A Ambrogelly ◽  
H D Becker ◽  
S Bunjun ◽  
...  

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 118-119
Author(s):  
Teresa A Davis ◽  
Marko Rudar ◽  
Jane Naberhuis ◽  
Agus Suryawan ◽  
Marta Fiorotto

Abstract Livestock animals are important dual-purpose models that benefit both agricultural and biomedical research. The neonatal pig is an appropriate model for the human infant to assess long-term effects of early life nutrition on growth and metabolic outcomes. Previously we have demonstrated that prematurity blunts the feeding-induced stimulation of translation initiation and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of neonatal pigs. The objective of this study was to determine whether reduced sensitivity to insulin and/or amino acids drives this blunted response. Pigs were delivered by caesarean section at preterm (PT, 103 d gestation) or at term (T, 112 d gestation) and fed parenterally for 4 d. On day 4, pigs were subject to euinsulinemic-euaminoacidemic-euglycemic (FAST), hyperinsulinemic-euaminoacidemic-euglycemic (INS), or euinsulinemic-hyperaminoacidemic-euglycemic (AA) clamps for 120 min, yielding six treatments: PT-FAST (n = 7), PT-INS (n = 9), PT-AA (n = 9), T-FAST (n = 8), T-INS (n = 9), and T-AA (n = 9). A flooding dose of L-[4-3H]Phe was injected into pigs 30 min before euthanasia. Birth weight and relative body weight gain were lower in PT than T pigs (P < 0.001). Plasma insulin concentration was increased from ~3 to ~100 µU/mL in INS compared to FAST and AA pigs (P < 0.001); plasma BCAA concentration was increased from ~250 to ~1,000 µmol/L in AA compared to FAST and INS pigs (P < 0.001). Despite achieving similar insulin and amino acid levels, longissimus dorsi AKT phosphorylation, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)·Rheb abundance, mTOR activation, and protein synthesis were lower in PT-INS than T-INS pigs (Table 1). Although amino-acid induced dissociation of Sestrin2 from GATOR2 was not affected by prematurity, mTOR·RagA abundance, mTOR·RagC abundance, mTOR activation, and protein synthesis were lower in PT-AA than T-AA pigs. The impaired capacity of premature skeletal muscle to respond to insulin or amino acids and promote protein synthesis likely contributes to reduced lean mass accretion. Research was supported by NIH and USDA.


1972 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Shephard ◽  
Wendy B. Levin

The ability of chloroplasts isolated from Acetabulana mediterranea to synthesize the protein amino acids has been investigated. When this chloroplast isolate was presented with 14CO2 for periods of 6–8 hr, tracer was found in essentially all amino acid species of their hydrolyzed protein Phenylalanine labeling was not detected, probably due to technical problems, and hydroxyproline labeling was not tested for The incorporation of 14CO2 into the amino acids is driven by light and, as indicated by the amount of radioactivity lost during ninhydrin decarboxylation on the chromatograms, the amino acids appear to be uniformly labeled. The amino acid labeling pattern of the isolate is similar to that found in plastids labeled with 14CO2 in vivo. The chloroplast isolate did not utilize detectable amounts of externally supplied amino acids in light or, with added adenosine triphosphate (ATP), in darkness. It is concluded that these chloroplasts are a tight cytoplasmic compartment that is independent in supplying the amino acids used for its own protein synthesis. These results are discussed in terms of the role of contaminants in the observed synthesis, the "normalcy" of Acetabularia chloroplasts, the synthetic pathways for amino acids in plastids, and the implications of these observations for cell compartmentation and chloroplast autonomy.


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