title: Crystal structure of a human tRNA(Gly) microhelix at 1.2A resolution.
abstract: The tRNA(Gly)/glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) system belongs to the so-called 'class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase system' in which tRNA identity elements are assured by rather few and simple determinants mostly located in the tRNA acceptor stem. Regarding evolutionary aspects, the tRNA(Gly)/GlyRS system is a special case. There exist two different types of GlyRS, namely an archaebacterial/human type and a eubacterial type reflecting an evolutionary divergence within this system. Here we report the crystal structure of a human tRNA(Gly) acceptor stem microhelix at 1.2A resolution. The local geometric parameters of the microhelix and the water network surrounding the RNA are presented. The structure complements the previously published Escherichia coli tRNA(Gly) aminoacyl stem structure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Förster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mankowska
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fürste
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perbandt
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Betzel
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Erdmann
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006801:Humans; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012353:RNA, Transfer, Gly / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012353:RNA, Transfer, Gly; D014867:Water