Synthesis of bisaminoacylated pdCpAs and tandemly activated transfer RNAs

Structural basis for the exceptional stability of bisaminoacylated nucleotides and transfer RNAs

At least one bisaminoacyl-tRNA is synthesized in nature (by Thermus thermophilus phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase), and many disubstituted tRNAs have been prepared in vitro. Such misacylated tRNAs are able to participate in protein synthesis, even though they lack the free 2'-OH group of the 3'-terminal adenosine moiety. Their ready participation in protein synthesis implies significant chemical reactivity. The basis for this reactivity has been documented previously. Surprisingly, the aminoacyl moieties of these tRNAs also exhibit exceptional chemical stability. In the present report, bisaminoacylated nucleotides are investigated computationally and experimentally to define the basis for the stability of such species. Molecular modeling of bisalanyl-AMP in the absence of solvent and in the presence of a limited number of water molecules revealed two common features among the low-energy structures. The first was the presence of H-bonding interactions between the two aminoacyl moieties. The second was the presence of a H-bonding interaction between the 2'-O-alanyl moiety and the N-3 atom of the adenine nucleobase, typically mediated through a water molecule. The prediction of an interaction between an aminoacyl moiety and the adenine nucleobase was confirmed experimentally by comparing the behavior of bisalanyl-AMP and bisalanyl-UMP in the presence of model nucleophiles. This study suggests a possible role for the adenosine moiety at the 3'-end of aminoanyl-tRNAs in controlling the stability and reactivity of the aminoacyl moiety and has important implications for the reactivity and stability of normal aminoacyl-tRNAs.

Synthesis of pdCpAs and transfer RNAs activated with derivatives of aspartic acid and cysteine

Described herein is the preparation of new aminoacylated derivatives of the dinucleotide pdCpA, and of transfer RNAs. The focus of the present work is the synthesis of amino acid analogs related to aspartic acid and cysteine species that have important functional roles in many proteins. The activated aminoacyl-tRNAs prepared can be utilized for the elaboration of proteins containing modified aspartic acid and cysteine derivatives at predetermined sites. Of particular interest is definition of functional group protection strategies that can be used for the preparation of the aminoacylated pdCpAs and tRNAs.

Aminoacylation of transfer RNAs with one and two amino acids

The detailed synthesis of (bis)aminoacyl-pdCpAs and the corresponding singly and tandemly activated tRNAs is reported. The synthetic pathway leading to these compounds has been validated for simple amino acid residues as well as for amino acids bearing more complex side chains. Protection/deprotection strategies are described. For the bisaminoacylated tRNAs, both the synthesis of tRNAs bearing the same amino acid residue at the 2' and 3' positions and tRNAs bearing two different aminoacyl moieties are reported. Further, it is shown that the tandemly activated tRNAs are able to participate in protein synthesis.

Positional assignment of differentially substituted bisaminoacylated pdCpAs

The synthesis and NMR analysis of a 2'-O-alanyl, 3'-O-[1-(13)C]valyl-pdCpA derivative has permitted the definitive assignment of the positions of acylation of tandemly activated pdCpAs, and the bisaminoacylated transfer RNAs derived therefrom.