PMID: 10319817 , Related PDB id: 1QF6

Authors:

Sankaranarayanan R, Dock-Bregeon AC, Romby P, Caillet J, Springer M, Rees B, Ehresmann C, Ehresmann B, Moras D

Title:

The structure of threonyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNA(Thr) complex enlightens its repressor activity and reveals an essential zinc ion in the active site.

Journal:

Cell. 1999 Apr 30;97(3):371-81.

Abstract:

E. coli threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) is a class II enzyme that represses the translation of its own mRNA. We report the crystal structure at 2.9 A resolution of the complex between tRNA(Thr) and ThrRS, whose structural features reveal novel strategies for providing specificity in tRNA selection. These include an amino-terminal domain containing a novel protein fold that makes minor groove contacts with the tRNA acceptor stem. The enzyme induces a large deformation of the anticodon loop, resulting in an interaction between two adjacent anticodon bases, which accounts for their prominent role in tRNA identity and translational regulation. A zinc ion found in the active site is implicated in amino acid recognition/discrimination.