title: Modified view of tRNA: stability amid sequence diversity.
abstract: In a recent issue of Molecular Cell, a report from the Phizicky lab challenges two commonly held notions regarding tRNAs: (1) tRNAs are stable molecules shielded from the machinery that cause other RNAs to have short half-lives, and (2) the many modifications found on tRNAs serve only subtle biological functions. Alexandrov et al. (2006) show that tRNA modifications can play an important role in tRNA stability, as without particular modifications, tRNA half-life can be reduced from hours to minutes by a new turnover pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, The University of Michigan, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, 3200 MSRB III, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Engelke
authors.forename: Anita K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hopper
mesh_terms: D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D020871:RNA Stability; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012343:RNA, Transfer