Functional expansion of human tRNA synthetases achieved by structural inventions.
Known as an essential component of the translational apparatus, the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family catalyzes the first step reaction in protein synthesis, that is, to specifically attach each amino acid to its cognate tRNA. While preserving this essential role, tRNA synthetases developed other roles during evolution. Human tRNA synthetases, in particular, have diverse functions in different pathways involving angiogenesis, inflammation and apoptosis. The functional diversity is further illustrated in the association with various diseases through genetic mutations that do not affect aminoacylation or protein synthesis. Here we review the accumulated knowledge on how human tRNA synthetases used structural inventions to achieve functional expansions.
Guo
Min
M
The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Schimmel
Paul
P
Yang
Xiang-Lei
XL
D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D006801:Humans; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis
D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases