ABSTRACT
This paper focuses on several aspects of the specificity of mutants of Escherichia coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS) and tRNA(Gln). Temperature-sensitive mutants located in glnS, the gene for GlnRS, have been described previously. The mutations responsible for the temperature-sensitive phenotype were analyzed, and pseudorevertants of these mutants isolated and characterized. The nature of these mutations is discussed in terms of their location in the three-dimensional structure of the tRNA(Gln).GlnRS complex. In order to characterize the specificity of the aminoacylation reaction, mutant tRNA(Gln) species were synthesized with either a 2'-deoxy AMP or 3'-deoxy AMP as their 3'-terminal nucleotide. Subsequent assays for aminoacylation and ATP/PPi exchange activity established the esterification of glutamine to the 2'-hydroxyl of the terminal adenosine; there is no glutaminylation of the 3'-OH group. This correlates with the classification of GlnRS as a class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Mutations in tRNA(Gln) are discussed which affect the recognition of GlnRS and the current concept of glutamine identity in E coli is reviewed.
Subject(s)
Escherichia coli/genetics , Glutamate-tRNA Ligase/metabolism , RNA, Transfer, Gln/metabolism , Base Sequence , Binding Sites , Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial , Glutamate-tRNA Ligase/genetics , Molecular Sequence Data , Mutation , Nucleic Acid Conformation , RNA, Bacterial/genetics , RNA, Bacterial/metabolism , RNA, Transfer, Gln/chemistry , RNA, Transfer, Gln/genetics , TemperatureABSTRACT
Several analogues of valine, leucine, and isoleucine carrying hydroxyl groups in the gamma- or delta-position have been tested in the aminoacylation of tRNA by valyl-tRNA synthetases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli. Results of the ATP/PPi exchange and of the aminoacylation reactions indicate that the amino acid analogues not only can form the aminoacyl adenylate intermediate but are also transferred to tRNA. However, the fact that the reaction consumes an excess of ATP indicates that the misactivated amino acid analogue is hydrolytically removed. Thus, valyl-tRNA synthetase from S. cerevisiae shows a high fidelity in forming valyl-tRNA. Although the much bulkier amino acid analogues allo- and iso-gamma-hydroxyvaline and allo- and iso-gamma-hydroxyisoleucine are initially charged to tRNA, the misaminoacylated tRNA(Val) is enzymatically deacylated. This cleavage reaction is mediated by the hydroxyl groups of the amino acid analogues which are converted into the corresponding lactones.
