tRNAs and tRNA mimics as cornerstones of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase regulations.
Structural plasticity of transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules is essential for interactions with their biological partners in aminoacylation reactions and during ribosome-dependent protein synthesis. This holds true when tRNAs are recruited for other functions than translation. Here we review regulation pathways where tRNAs and tRNA mimics play a pivotal role. We further discuss the importance of the identity signals used in aminoacylation that are also required to specify regulatory mechanisms. Such mechanisms are diverse and intervene in transcription, splicing and translation. Altogether, the review highlights the many manners architectural features of tRNA were selected by evolution to control biological key processes.
Ryckelynck
Michaël
M
Département Mécanismes et Macromolécules de la Synthèse Protéique et Cristallogenèse, UPR 9002, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 15, rue René Descartes, F-67084 Strasbourg cedex, France.
Giegé
Richard
R
Frugier
Magali
M
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000172:deficiency; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000378:metabolism*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D046249:Transfer RNA Aminoacylation
D000596:Amino Acids; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012343:RNA, Transfer; D011494:Protein Kinases; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases