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Structural basis for anticodon recognition by discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase

Nature Structural Biology volume 8, pages 203–206 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Glutamyl-tRNA synthetases (GluRSs) are divided into two distinct types, with regard to the presence or absence of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS) in the genetic translation systems. In the original 19-synthetase systems lacking GlnRS, the 'non-discriminating' GluRS glutamylates both tRNAGlu and tRNAGln. In contrast, in the evolved 20-synthetase systems with GlnRS, the 'discriminating' GluRS aminoacylates only tRNAGlu. Here we report the 2.4 Å resolution crystal structure of a 'discriminating' GluRS·tRNAGlu complex from Thermus thermophilus. The GluRS recognizes the tRNAGlu anticodon bases via two α-helical domains, maintaining the base stacking. We show that the discrimination between the Glu and Gln anticodons (34YUC36 and 34YUG36, respectively) is achieved by a single arginine residue (Arg 358). The mutation of Arg 358 to Gln resulted in a GluRS that does not discriminate between the Glu and Gln anticodons. This change mimics the reverse course of GluRS evolution from anticodon 'non-dicsriminating' to 'discriminating'.

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Figure 1: Crystal structure of the complex.
Figure 2: The anticodon interface in the T. thermophilus GluRS·tRNAGlu complex (stereo view).
Figure 3: The third anticodon base recognition.

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Acknowledgements

S.Y. is the recipient of Grants-in-Aid for Science Research on Priority Areas from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan; S.S. was supported by grants from the JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists and from the RIKEN Special Postdoctoral Researchers Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular Signaling Laboratory, RIKEN Harima Institute at SPring-8, 1-1-1 Kouto, Mikazuki-cho, Sayo, 679-5148, Hyogo, Japan

    Shun-ichi Sekine, Osamu Nureki & Shigeyuki Yokoyama

  2. Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0033, Tokyo, Japan

    Shun-ichi Sekine, Osamu Nureki, Atsushi Shimada, Dmitry G. Vassylyev & Shigeyuki Yokoyama

  3. Genomic Sciences Center, RIKEN Yokohama Institute, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, 230-0045, Yokohama, Japan

    Osamu Nureki & Shigeyuki Yokoyama

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  1. Shun-ichi Sekine
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Correspondence to Dmitry G. Vassylyev or Shigeyuki Yokoyama.

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Sekine, Si., Nureki, O., Shimada, A. et al. Structural basis for anticodon recognition by discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase. Nat Struct Mol Biol 8, 203–206 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/84927

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