title: Flexizymes, their evolutionary history and diverse utilities.
abstract: In contemporary organisms the aminoacylation of tRNAs is performed exclusively by protein aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. However, in vitro selection experiments have identified RNA enzymes that exhibit the necessary characteristics to charge tRNA molecules with acyl groups in a way that is compatible with ribosomal translation, suggesting that such ribozymes may have fulfilled this function prior to the evolution of proteinaceous life. The current chapter provides a review of the history, structure, and function of these RNA aminoacyl synthetases, and discusses their practical application to "genetic reprogramming" and other biotechnologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Toby
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Passioura
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suga
mesh_terms: D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D049148:Aminoacylation; D001483:Base Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases