Phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase from baker's yeast. Repeated sequences in the two subunits

Identification of the major tRNA(Phe) binding domain in the tetrameric structure of cytoplasmic phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase from baker's yeast

Native cytoplasmic phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase from baker's yeast is a tetramer of the alpha 2 beta 2 type. On mild tryptic cleavage it gives rise to a modified alpha 2 beta 2 form that has lost the tRNA(Phe) binding capacity but is still able to activate phenylalanine. In this paper are presented data concerning peptides released by this limited proteolytic conversion as well as those arising from exhaustive tryptic digestion of the truncated beta subunit. Each purified peptide was unambiguously assigned to a unique stretch of the beta subunit amino acid sequence that was recently determined via gene cloning and DNA sequencing. Together with earlier results from affinity labelling studies the present data show that the Lys 172-Ile 173 bond is the unique target of trypsin under mild conditions and that the N-terminal domain of each beta subunit (residues 1-172) contains the major tRNA(Phe) binding sites.

Affinity labelling of yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase with a 3'-oxidised tRNAPhe. Isolation and sequence of the labelled peptide

Yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase was specifically labelled with a 3'-oxidised tRNAPhe. Stoichiometric inactivation was achieved with the incorporation of 2 mol oxidised tRNA Phe/mol enzyme which corresponds exactly to the stoichiometry of tRNA binding. The labelled peptide has been isolated using a quick chromatographic procedure which can be applied to any covalent complex formed between a tRNA and an aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. The isolated peptide (18 amino acids) was found to encompass the unique cysteine sequence of the smaller beta subunit of the enzyme.

Study of the interaction between yeast tRNAphe and yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase by monochromatic ultraviolet irradiation at various wavelengths. Advantages and limits of the method

The interactions between yeast tRNAphe and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase were studied by analysis of the covalent adducts obtained upon monochromatic ultraviolet irradiation at different wavelengths (248, 282, 292, 302 and 313 nm). The high extent of inactivation of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase, together with the partial modification of tRNA, as well as the peculiar instability of most of the covalent bonds formed upon irradiation constitute severe limitations to the use of the technique and to the interpretation of the results. These disadvantages led us to select an irradiation wavelength of 248 nm and to use only mild isolation procedures allowing a good recovery of the covalent adducts formed. Seven major tryptic peptides of the enzyme were found to be cross-linked to tRNAPhe whereas six major T1-oligonucleotides were covalently linked to the protein, among these, the three cross-linked oligonucleotides previously described by Shoemaker and Schimmel (J. Biol. Chem. 250 (1975) 4440-4444) in the same system. The difference in the number of covalently linked oligonucleotides is discussed in the light of the instability of the covalent linkages. The localization of the six oligonucleotides at the inside of the two branches forming the L-shaped tRNA molecule is similar to that observed in the yeast valine system (Renaud et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 101 (1979) 475-483) and is consistent with the interaction model previously described (Rich and Schimmel, Nucl. Acids Res. 4 (1977) 1649-1665 and Ebel et al. in Transfer RNA: structure, properties and recognition, (1979) pp. 325-343 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY). The occurrence of covalent cross-linking upon irradiation in the tryptophan absorption band (302 nm) strongly suggests the participation of this residue in the stabilization of the tRNA enzyme complex.

The evolving tRNA molecule

The study of tRNA molecular evolution is crucial to understanding the origin and establishment of the genetic code as well as the differentiation and refinement of the machinery of protein synthesis in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, organelles, and phage systems. The small size of the molecule and its critical involvement in a multiplicity of roles distinguish its study from classical protein molecular evolution with respect to goals and methods. Here, the authors assess available and missing data, existing and needed methodology, and the impact of tRNA studies on current theories both of genetic code evolution and of the evolution of species. They analyze mutational "hot spots", the role of base modification, synthetase recognition, codon-anticodon interactions and the status of organelle tRNA.

Structural studies on aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. A tentative correlation between the subunit size and the occurrence of repeated sequences

Recent studies have shown that those synthetases with subunits greater than 85,000 daltons contain extensive repeated sequences, whilst those with small subunits (40,000 daltons) do not. We have undertaken a comparative study of four aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (glutamyl-, arginyl-, valyl-, and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetases) with subunit sizes ranging from 56,000 to 130,000 daltons in an attempt to correlate the occurrence and extent of the repeats with the length of the polypeptide chain. Our results show that monomeric glutamyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli (56,000 daltons) contains few repeated sequences, whereas both subunits of yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (alpha, 73,000 daltons; beta, 62,000 daltons) and yeast arginyl-tRNA synthetase (74,000 daltons) do have a significant amount of repeats. Thus 56,000 dalton appears to be the minimum size compatible with the existence of such repeats.

The glutaminyl-transfer RNA synthetase of Escherichia coli. Purification, structure and function relationship

Glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli has been purified to homogeneity with a yield of about 50%. It is a monomer of about 69 000 daltons. Arginyl and glutamyl-tRNA synthetases are also monomeric synthetases of molecular weight significantly lower than 100 000. In addition it is well known that these three synthetases require their cognate tRNA to catalyze the [32P]PPi-ATP exchange. Like arginyl-tRNA synthetase, but unlike glutamyl-tRNA synthetase, glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase seems to contain some repeated sequences. Therefore no correlation can be established between the tRNA requirement of these synthetases for the catalysis of the isotope-exchange and the presence or the absence of sequence duplication. In the native enzyme four sulfhydryl groups react with dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid causing a loss of both the aminoacylation and the [32P]PPi-ATP exchange activities. The rate-limiting steps of the overall aminoacylation and its reverse reaction correspond, respectively, to the catalysis of the aminoacylation of tRNA Gln and of the the deacylation of glutaminyl-tRNA Gln. At acidic pH, glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase catalyzes the synthesis of the glutaminyl-tRNA Gln and its deacylation at significantly lower rates than the [32P]PPi-ATP exchange, indicating than glutaminyl-tRNA Gln cannot be an obligatory intermediate in this isotope exchange. These results suggest the existence of a two-step aminoacylation mechanism catalyzed by this enzyme.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase families and their significance to the origin of the genetic code

A correlation of various aspects of the protein structures and substrate and mechanistic specificities of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases has led to the identification of at least one family of enzymes probably derived from a common ancestral synthetase. While strong correlations exist only in one part of the array of 64 codons comprising the Genetic Code, this itself may be interpreted as a meaningful pattern, most consistent with a development of the present code from earlier codes containing fewer amino acids and fewer available codons. Specifically, strong correlations in the enzymes whose cognate tRNAs respond to codons containing a central pyrimidine, including the enzyme family of Ile-, Phe-, Val-, Met-, and Leu-tRNA synthetases, suggests that these enzymes evolved last, and that, therefore, an earlier version of the Genetic Code was comprised solely of codons containing a central purine. It is suggested that further study of the historical interrelationships of these enzymes could lead to a fairly detailed picture of how the Genetic Code developed.