Structural highlights
Function
[SYE_THEEB] Non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase. Catalyzes the attachment of glutamate to tRNA(Glu) in a two-step reaction: glutamate is first activated by ATP to form Glu-AMP and then transferred to the acceptor end of tRNA(Glu). Acylates both tRNA(Glu) and tRNA(Gln) with glutamate, but has 13-fold higher efficiency with tRNA(Glu).[1]
Evolutionary Conservation
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Error-free protein biosynthesis is dependent on the reliable charging of each tRNA with its cognate amino acid. Many bacteria, however, lack a glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. In these organisms, tRNA(Gln) is initially mischarged with glutamate by a non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (ND-GluRS). This enzyme thus charges both tRNA(Glu) and tRNA(Gln) with glutamate. Discriminating GluRS (D-GluRS), found in some bacteria and all eukaryotes, exclusively generates Glu-tRNA(Glu). Here we present the first crystal structure of a non-discriminating GluRS from Thermosynechococcus elongatus (ND-GluRS(Tel)) in complex with glutamate at a resolution of 2.45 A. Structurally, the enzyme shares the overall architecture of the discriminating GluRS from Thermus thermophilus (D-GluRS(Tth)). We confirm experimentally that GluRS(Tel) is non-discriminating and present kinetic parameters for synthesis of Glu-tRNA(Glu) and of Glu-tRNA(Gln). Anticodons of tRNA(Glu) (34C/UUC36) and tRNA(Gln) (34C/UUG36) differ only in base 36. The pyrimidine base of C36 is specifically recognized in D-GluRS(Tth) by the residue Arg358. In ND-GluRS(Tel) this arginine residue is replaced by glycine (Gly366) presumably allowing both cytosine and the bulkier purine base G36 of tRNA(Gln) to be tolerated. Most other ND-GluRS share this structural feature, leading to relaxed substrate specificity.
Crystal structure of a non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase.,Schulze JO, Masoumi A, Nickel D, Jahn M, Jahn D, Schubert WD, Heinz DW J Mol Biol. 2006 Sep 1;361(5):888-97. Epub 2006 Jul 5. PMID:16876193[2]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Schulze JO, Masoumi A, Nickel D, Jahn M, Jahn D, Schubert WD, Heinz DW. Crystal structure of a non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase. J Mol Biol. 2006 Sep 1;361(5):888-97. Epub 2006 Jul 5. PMID:16876193 doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2006.06.054
- ↑ Schulze JO, Masoumi A, Nickel D, Jahn M, Jahn D, Schubert WD, Heinz DW. Crystal structure of a non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase. J Mol Biol. 2006 Sep 1;361(5):888-97. Epub 2006 Jul 5. PMID:16876193 doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2006.06.054
