title: Novel tRNA aminoacylation mechanisms.
abstract: In nature, ribosomally synthesized proteins can contain at least 22 different amino acids: the 20 common amino acids as well as selenocysteine and pyrrolysine. Each of these amino acids is inserted into proteins codon-specifically via an aminoacyl-transfer RNA (aa-tRNA). In most cases, these aa-tRNAs are biosynthesized directly by a set of highly specific and accurate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs). However, in some cases aaRSs with relaxed or novel substrate specificities cooperate with other enzymes to generate specific canonical and non-canonical aminoacyl-tRNAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cathopoulis
authors.forename: Pitak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chuawong
authors.forename: Tamara L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hendrickson
mesh_terms: D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000378:metabolism; D001226:Aspartate-tRNA Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology; D012346:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012348:RNA, Transfer, Asn / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D012350:RNA, Transfer, Cys / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D012351:RNA, Transfer, Gln / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D046249:Transfer RNA Aminoacylation
chemical_list: D012346:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl; D012348:RNA, Transfer, Asn; D012350:RNA, Transfer, Cys; D012351:RNA, Transfer, Gln; C112705:selenocysteinyl-tRNA; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases; D001226:Aspartate-tRNA Ligase; C019975:cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase; C020659:glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase; C029194:asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase