Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complexes: beyond translation.
Although aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are housekeeping enzymes essential for protein synthesis, they can play non-catalytic roles in diverse biological processes. Some ARSs are capable of forming complexes with each other and additional proteins. This characteristic is most pronounced in mammals, which produce a macromolecular complex comprising nine different ARSs and three additional factors: p43, p38 and p18. We have been aware of the existence of this complex for a long time, but its structure and function have not been well understood. The only apparent distinction between the complex-forming ARSs and those that do not form complexes is their ability to interact with the three non-enzymatic factors. These factors are required not only for the catalytic activity and stability of the associated ARSs, such as isoleucyl-, methionyl-, and arginyl-tRNA synthetase, but also for diverse signal transduction pathways. They may thus have joined the ARS community to coordinate protein synthesis with other biological processes.
Lee
Sang Won
SW
National Creative Research Initiatives Center for ARS Network, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
Cho
Byeong Hoon
BH
Park
Sang Gyu
SG
Kim
Sunghoon
S
D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001126:Arginine-tRNA Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007533:Isoleucine-tRNA Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D008718:Methionine-tRNA Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D011485:Protein Binding; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
D016207:Cytokines; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C474321:aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-associated protein p38; C077219:small inducible cytokine subfamily E, member 1; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases; C101946:p18 component, aminoacyl tRNA synthetase; D008718:Methionine-tRNA Ligase; D001126:Arginine-tRNA Ligase; D007533:Isoleucine-tRNA Ligase