哺乳动物氨基酰-tRNA合成酶的研究

1 氨基酰-tRNA合成酶及哺乳动物细胞中氨基酰 tRNA合成酶的特点 1．1 氨基酰-tRNA合成酶催化的反应氨基酰-tRNA合成酶家族(aaRS)参与生物体中的遗传解码过程。它们催化氨基酸与其对应的 tRNA之间的酯化反应,生成氨基酰-tRNA参与蛋白质的生物合成,它反应的专一性确保了蛋白质生物合成的精确性。氨基酸与其对应的tRNA之间的     

氨酰tRNA 合成酶抑制剂作为新型抗感染药物的研究进展

细菌耐药性的不断上升对现有阶段的抗生素类药物提出了一个严峻的挑战,同时也掀起了针对于新靶标的抗菌药物的研究。氨酰tRNA合成酶(aaRS)催化特定氨基酸连接到相应的tRNA分子上,在蛋白质的合成过程中起着必不可少的作用。氨酰tRNA合成酶的抑制会导致蛋白质合成的停止,扰乱细菌和真菌的生长,因此氨酰tRNA合成酶是一类潜在的抗感染靶标。本文分别综述了天然产物及其衍生的aaRS抑制剂,底物和反应中间体模拟物,通过合成和通过虚拟筛选得到的aaRS抑制剂作为新型抗细菌和抗真菌药物的研究进展,并对aaRS的靶标特点、分类和催化机制作一简要介绍。     

新发现的氨基酰-tRNA合成酶的非经典功能

<正>氨基酰-tRNA合成酶(aminoacyl-tRNAsynthetase,aaRS)家族是进化上极为古老的酶类,广泛存在于生物体中,参与生物体内的遗传解码过程。它们负责催化氨基酸与其对应tRNA之间的酯化反应生成氨基酰-tRNA,为生物体内的蛋白质合成提供     

氨基酰-tRNA合成酶与神经退行性疾病

氨基酰-tRNA合成酶催化tRNA的氨基酰化反应为生物体内的蛋白质合成提供原料.这类古老且保守的蛋白质分子在高等生物复杂的细胞分子网络中分化出的新功能是目前人们关注的焦点.近期在对一些患有神经退行性疾病的病人和小鼠模型的研究中发现,位于酪氨酰-tRNA合成酶、甘氨酰-tRNA合成酶和丙氨酰-tRNA合成酶上的突变,可分别导致DI腓骨肌萎缩症(Charcot-Marie-Toothdisease,CMT)C型,腓骨肌萎缩症2D型及小脑浦肯雅(Purkinje)细胞丢失.初步的致病机理研究表明,致病突变对这3种酶的影响各不相同:酪氨酰-tRNA合成酶的氨基酰化催化能力受到影响,甘氨酰-tRNA合成酶受影响的可能是一种未知的新功能,而丙氨酰-tRNA合成酶受影响的则是它的编校功能.这些研究结果揭示了氨基酰-tRNA合成酶涉及神经退行性疾病的广泛性和其机制的复杂性,并将促进对神经退行性疾病这一类常见疾病的病理和治疗方法的研究.     

氨基酰-tRNA合成酶与神经系统疾病

氨基酰-tRNA合成酶(aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, aaRS)催化tRNA氨基酰化反应与编校反应,合成正确的氨基酰-tRNA,为蛋白质生物合成提供原料。高等生物的aaRS获得了除蛋白质合成之外的非经典功能。近年来,随着基因组测序和外显子测序技术的发展和新增临床病例的发现,aaRS基因突变被报道与多种神经系统疾病相关。该文将简要介绍已报道的与aaRS基因突变相关的神经系统疾病,并总结aaRS基因突变导致神经系统疾病机制的研究进展;还将讨论神经系统疾病模型在aaRS非经典功能研究和新药设计中的潜在应用。     

八肋游仆虫氨酰-tRNA合成酶基因序列分析

氨酰-tRNA合成酶 (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, aaRS) 是蛋白质生物合成中的关键酶,能够催化特定的氨基酸和相应tRNA结合。为了研究八肋游仆虫氨酰 tRNA合成酶(Euplotes octocarinatus aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, EoaaRS)基因的种类、数目、结构及起源,本研究利用生物信息学方法,对八肋游仆虫大核基因组编码的aaRS进行了系统分析。结果表明,八肋游仆虫大核基因组共包含45个aaRS基因,可编码20种不同的aaRS蛋白。其中,EoGlnRS和EoAlaRS仅由1个基因编码,其余EoaaRS均由多个基因编码。亚细胞定位分析显示,仅8个EoaaRS具有线粒体导肽,对应于6种EoaaRS。此外,基于核酸序列分析显示,多个EoaaRS在翻译过程中需要发生编程性核糖体移码,才能形成结构完整的蛋白质产物。结构域分析表明,部分EoaaRS存在特殊结构域,暗示其可能具有氨酰化以外的新功能。进化分析揭示,2个EoGlyRS起源于古菌,而2个EoLysRS起源于细菌。本研究为后续探讨低等真核生物aaRS的结构与功能奠定了基础。     

氨酰-tRNA合成酶专一性识别的进化

氨酰-tRNA合成酶(AARS)是一类在蛋白质合成过程中起着重要作用的酶,它通过与tRNA及其相应氨基酸的专一性识别作用,使得基因序列能够被精确地翻译成蛋白质序列.然而,氨酰-tRNA合成酶的这种识别作用既有专一性,也具有“兼容性”.氨酰-tRNA合成酶的这种双重性质不仅与其结构的进化有关,而且还与其所处的各类生物的不同进化阶段有关.AARS似乎经历了一个由“模糊专一性”（多重专一性）到“精确专一性”（单一专一性）的演变历程.     

八肋游仆虫氨酰-tRNA合成酶基因序列分析北大核心CSCD

氨酰-tRNA合成酶(aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase,aaRS)是蛋白质生物合成中的关键酶,能够催化特定的氨基酸和相应tRNA结合。为了研究八肋游仆虫氨酰-tRNA合成酶(Euplotes octocarinatus aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase,EoaaRS)基因的种类、数目、结构及起源,本研究利用生物信息学方法,对八肋游仆虫大核基因组编码的aaRS进行了系统分析。结果表明,八肋游仆虫大核基因组共包含45个aaRS基因,可编码20种不同的aaRS蛋白。其中,Eo GlnRS和Eo AlaRS仅由1个基因编码,其余EoaaRS均由多个基因编码。亚细胞定位分析显示,仅8个EoaaRS具有线粒体导肽,对应于6种EoaaRS。此外,基于核酸序列分析显示,多个EoaaRS在翻译过程中需要发生编程性核糖体移码,才能形成结构完整的蛋白质产物。结构域分析表明,部分EoaaRS存在特殊结构域,暗示其可能具有氨酰化以外的新功能。进化分析揭示,2个Eo GlyRS起源于古菌,而2个Eo LysRS起源于细菌。本研究为后续探讨低等真核生物aaRS的结构与功能奠定了基础。     

氨酰-tRNA合成酶维持翻译忠实性的机制

氨酰-tRNA合成酶在维持蛋白质合成忠实性方面具有重要的作用.其忠实性机制可以分为正确地选择底物、转位前编辑、顺式转位后编辑和反式转位后编辑4个水平.不同的氨酰-tRNA合成酶能够利用其中的一种或几种机制,将氨基酸和tRNA连接起来,形成正确的氨酰-tRNA.目前,氨酰-tRNA合成酶的研究超出蛋白质合成,已经延伸到了...     

氨基酰-tRNA合成酶的胞外功能

氨基酰-tRNA合成酶(aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase,aaRS)的经典功能是为蛋白质的生物合成提供原料。越来越多的证据表明,多种aaRS可以分泌到细胞外,以细胞分子的形式调控细胞乃至生物体的功能,参与和影响某些疾病的发生。分泌型aaRS的功能形式存在三种:全长形式、水解后的短形式和疾病相关突变体。分泌型aaRS可以调控多种靶细胞,包括内皮细胞、免疫细胞和神经细胞。随着研究的不断深入,将丰富人们对aaRS分泌过程、功能机制和在人类疾病中的潜在作用的认识。拟从氨基酰-tRNA合成酶作为胞外细胞分子的角度,简要介绍已报道的分泌型aaRS,其参与调节靶细胞的机制以及影响疾病发生的机理。     

Structural studies on tRNA acceptor stem microhelices: exchange of the discriminator base A73 for G in human tRNALeu switches the acceptor specificity from leucine to serine possibly by decreasing the stability of the terminal G1-C72 base pair.

Correct recognition of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) is crucial to the maintenance of translational fidelity. The discriminator base A73 in human tRNALeuis critical for its specific recognition by the aaRS. Exchanging A73 for G abolishes leucine acceptance and converts it into a serine acceptor in vitro . Two RNA microhelices of 24 nt length that correspond to the tRNALeuacceptor stem and differ only in the discriminator base were synthesized: a wild-type tRNALeumicrohelix, where nt 21 corresponds to the discriminator base position 73, and an A21G mutant microhelix. To investigate whether different identities of both tRNAs are caused by conformational differences, NMR and UV melting experiments were performed on both microhelices. Two-dimentional NOESY spectra showed both microhelices to exhibit the same overall conformation at their 3'-CCA ends. Thermodynamic analysis and melting behaviour of the base-paired imino protons observed by NMR spectroscopy suggest that the A21G (A73G in tRNA) exchange results in a decrease of melting transition cooperativity and a destabilization of the terminal G1-C20 (G1-C72 in tRNA) base pair. Furthermore, the fact that this 3'-terminal imino proton is more solvent-exposed at physiological temperature might be another indication for the importance of the stability of the terminal base pair for specific tRNA recognition.     

Role of the anticodon in recognition of tRNA by aminoacyl-tRNA-synthetases

The nucleic acid-protein interactions are considered for mutual recognition of transfer RNAs and cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. The validity of the first recognition hypothesis (1964) which postulated the participation of anticodons in this process has been proved both for prokaryote and eukaryote tRNA species. This conclusion stems from numerous data obtained by means of different methodological approaches. These experimental observations concern the majority of tRNAs belonging to the main structural class of tRNAs with a short variable loop. Structural basis of recognition for some tRNAs (with long variable loop) remains obscure.     

tRNA-balanced expression of a eukaryal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase by an mRNA-mediated pathway

Aminoacylation of transfer RNAs is a key step during translation. It is catalysed by the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and requires the specific recognition of their cognate substrates, one or several tRNAs, ATP and the amino acid. Whereas the control of certain aaRS genes is well known in prokaryotes, little is known about the regulation of eukaryotic aaRS genes. Here, it is shown that expression of AspRS is regulated in yeast by a feedback mechanism that necessitates the binding of AspRS to its messenger RNA. This regulation leads to a synchronized expression of AspRS and tRNA(Asp). The correlation between AspRS expression and mRNA(AspRS) and tRNA(Asp) concentrations, as well as the presence of AspRS in the nucleus, suggests an original regulation mechanism. It is proposed that the surplus of AspRS, not sequestered by tRNA(Asp), is imported into the nucleus where it binds to mRNA(AspRS) and thus inhibits its accumulation.     

氨基酰tRNA合成酶的经典与非经典酶活性

氨基酰tRNA合成酶（aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases,aaRS）家族的经典功能是催化氨基酸与对应tRNA结合,形成氨基酰tRNA,参与蛋白质合成。aaRS在进化过程中不断增加与氨基酰化功能无关的新结构域,其亚细胞器定位也受到营养、压力信号、参与调控血管新生和炎症反应等内外部信号调控,且不同aaRS的突变导致不同人类疾病,提示aaRS具有信号传导功能,但缺少具体的生化机制。最新发现aaRS具有氨基酰转移酶活性。一种氨基酸可以被其对应的aaRS活化成氨基酰AMP,氨基酰AMP可以修饰与该aaRS相互作用蛋白质的赖氨酸,传递该氨基酸的丰度及结构信息,调控细胞信号网络。aaRS新功能的发现和研究,为解释aaRS的生理病理重要性提供新的方向。本文综述aaRS的进化及非经典功能,讨论aaRS氨基酰转移酶活性在细胞信号传导及其与疾病的相关性,也包括药物开发潜力。     

One ancestor for two codes viewed from the perspective of two complementary modes of tRNA aminoacylation

Background  

The genetic code is brought into action by 20 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. These enzymes are evenly divided into two classes (I and II) that recognize tRNAs from the minor and major groove sides of the acceptor stem, respectively. We have reported recently that: (1) ribozymic precursors of the synthetases seem to have used the same two sterically mirror modes of tRNA recognition, (2) having these two modes might have helped in preventing erroneous aminoacylation of ancestral tRNAs with complementary anticodons, yet (3) the risk of confusion for the presumably earliest pairs of complementarily encoded amino acids had little to do with anticodons. Accordingly, in this communication we focus on the acceptor stem.     

Association of a multi-synthetase complex with translating ribosomes in the archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis

In archaea and eukaryotes aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) associate in multi-synthetase complexes (MSCs), however the role of such MSCs in translation is unknown. MSC function was investigated in vivo in the archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis, wherein six aaRSs were affinity co-purified together with several other factors involved in protein synthesis, suggesting that MSCs may interact directly with translating ribosomes. In support of this hypothesis, the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) activities of the MSC were enriched in isolated T. kodakarensis polysome fractions. These data indicate that components of the archaeal protein synthesis machinery associate into macromolecular assemblies in vivo and provide the potential to increase translation efficiency by limiting substrate diffusion away from the ribosome, thus facilitating rapid recycling of tRNAs.     

Evolutionary coadaptation of the motif 2--acceptor stem interaction in the class II prolyl-tRNA synthetase system

Known crystal structures of class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases complexed to their cognate tRNAs reveal that critical acceptor stem contacts are made by the variable loop connecting the beta-strands of motif 2 located within the catalytic core of class II synthetases. To identify potential acceptor stem contacts made by Escherichia coli prolyl-tRNA synthetase (ProRS), an enzyme of unknown structure, we performed cysteine-scanning mutagenesis in the motif 2 loop. We identified an arginine residue (R144) that was essential for tRNA aminoacylation but played no role in amino acid activation. Cross-linking experiments confirmed that the end of the tRNA(Pro) acceptor stem is proximal to this motif 2 loop residue. Previous work had shown that the tRNA(Pro) acceptor stem elements A73 and G72 (both strictly conserved among bacteria) are important recognition elements for E. coli ProRS. We carried out atomic group "mutagenesis" studies at these two positions of E. coli tRNA(Pro) and determined that major groove functional groups at A73 and G72 are critical for recognition by ProRS. Human tRNA(Pro), which lacks these elements, is not aminoacylated by the bacterial enzyme. An analysis of chimeric tRNA(Pro) constructs showed that, in addition to A73 and G72, transplantation of the E. coli tRNA(Pro) D-domain was necessary and sufficient to convert the human tRNA into a substrate for the bacterial synthetase. In contrast to the bacterial system, base-specific acceptor stem recognition does not appear to be used by human ProRS. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis revealed that motif 2 loop residues are not critical for tRNA aminoacylation activity of the human enzyme. Taken together, our results illustrate how synthetases and tRNAs have coadapted to changes in protein-acceptor stem recognition through evolution.