Evidence for an adaptation mechanism of mitochondrial translation via tRNA import from the cytosol.

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Kamenski P, Kolesnikova O, Jubenot V, Entelis N, Krasheninnikov IA, Martin RP, Tarassov I

Evidence for an adaptation mechanism of mitochondrial translation via tRNA import from the cytosol.

Mol Cell. 2007 Jun 8;26(5):625-37.

PubMed ID

17560369 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Although mitochondrial import of nuclear DNA-encoded RNAs is widely occurring, their functions in the organelles are not always understood. Mitochondrial function(s) of tRNA(Lys)(CUU), tRK1, targeted into Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria was mysterious, since mitochondrial DNA-encoded tRNA(Lys)(UUU), tRK3, was hypothesized to decode both lysine codons, AAA and AAG. Mitochondrial targeting of tRK1 depends on the precursor of mitochondrial lysyl-tRNA synthetase, pre-Msk1p. Here we show that substitution of pre-Msk1p by its Ashbya gossypii ortholog results in a strain in which tRK3 is aminoacylated, while tRK1 is not imported. At elevated temperature, drop of tRK1 import inhibits mitochondrial translation of mRNAs containing AAG codons, which coincides with the impaired 2-thiolation of tRK3 anticodon wobble nucleotide. Restoration of tRK1 import cures the translational defect, suggesting the role of tRK1 in conditional adaptation of mitochondrial protein synthesis. In contrast with the known ways of organellar translation control, this mechanism exploits the RNA import pathway.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Lysine	Lysine--tRNA ligase	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Not Available	Details