title: tRNA as an active chemical scaffold for diverse chemical transformations.
abstract: During protein synthesis, tRNA serves as the intermediary between cognate amino acids and their corresponding RNA trinucleotide codons. Aminoacyl-tRNA is also a biosynthetic precursor and amino acid donor for other macromolecules. AA-tRNAs allow transformations of acidic amino acids into their amide-containing counterparts, and seryl-tRNA(Ser) donates serine for antibiotic synthesis. Aminoacyl-tRNA is also used to cross-link peptidoglycan, to lysinylate the lipid bilayer, and to allow proteolytic turnover via the N-end rule. These alternative functions may signal the use of RNA in early evolution as both a biological scaffold and a catalyst to achieve a wide variety of chemical transformations.
authors.affiliation: Cell and Molecular Biology Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, United States. Christopher.Francklyn@uvm.edu
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Francklyn
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minajigi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012346:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D045725:Tetrapyrroles / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D011506:Proteins; D012346:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl; D045725:Tetrapyrroles