AMINOACYL-tRNA SYNTHESIS

• Published in: Annual review of biochemistry Vol. 69; no. 1; pp. 617 - 650
• Main Authors: Ibba, Michael, Söll, Dieter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto, CA 94303-0139 Annual Reviews 01-01-2000; 4139 El Camino Way, P.O. Box 10139 Annual Reviews, Inc; USA
• Subjects: Amino acids; aminoacyl-tRNA ligase; aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase; Animals; Bacteria - metabolism; Bacteria - pathogenicity; Bacterial Infections - diagnosis; Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Biological Evolution; Enzyme Inhibitors - therapeutic use; evolution; Humans; Models, Molecular; RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl - biosynthesis; RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl - chemistry; RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl - genetics; transamidation; transfer RNA; translation
• ISSN: 0066-4154; 1545-4509
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev.biochem.69.1.617

Aminoacyl-tRNAs are substrates for translation and are pivotal in
determining how the genetic code is interpreted as amino acids. The function of
aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis is to precisely match amino acids with tRNAs
containing the corresponding anticodon. This is primarily achieved by the
direct attachment of an amino acid to the corresponding tRNA by an
aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, although intrinsic proofreading and extrinsic
editing are also essential in several cases. Recent studies of aminoacyl-tRNA
synthesis, mainly prompted by the advent of whole genome sequencing and the
availability of a vast body of structural data, have led to an expanded and
more detailed picture of how aminoacyl-tRNAs are synthesized. This article
reviews current knowledge of the biochemical, structural, and evolutionary
facets of aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis.