Structural basis for discrimination of L-phenylalanine from L-tyrosine by phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase.

Article Details

Citation

Kotik-Kogan O, Moor N, Tworowski D, Safro M

Structural basis for discrimination of L-phenylalanine from L-tyrosine by phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase.

Structure. 2005 Dec;13(12):1799-807.

PubMed ID
16338408 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) exert control over the faithful transfer of amino acids onto cognate tRNAs. Since chemical structures of various amino acids closely resemble each other, it is difficult to discriminate between them. Editing activity has been evolved by certain aaRSs to resolve the problem. In this study, we determined the crystal structures of complexes of T. thermophilus phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (PheRS) with L-tyrosine, p-chloro-phenylalanine, and a nonhydrolyzable tyrosyl-adenylate analog. The structures demonstrate plasticity of the synthetic site capable of binding substrates larger than phenylalanine and provide a structural basis for the proofreading mechanism. The editing site is localized at the B3/B4 interface, 35 A from the synthetic site. Glubeta334 plays a crucial role in the specific recognition of the Tyr moiety in the editing site. The tyrosyl-adenylate analog binds exclusively in the synthetic site. Both structural data and tyrosine-dependent ATP hydrolysis enhanced by tRNA(Phe) provide evidence for a preferential posttransfer editing pathway in the phenylalanine-specific system.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
PhenylalaninePhenylalanine--tRNA ligase alpha subunitProteinHumans
Unknown
Not AvailableDetails
PhenylalaninePhenylalanine--tRNA ligase beta subunitProteinHumans
Unknown
Not AvailableDetails
PhenylalaninePhenylalanine--tRNA ligase, mitochondrialProteinHumans
Unknown
Not AvailableDetails