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Douglas J, Cui H, Perona JJ, Vargas‐Rodriguez O, Tyynismaa H, Carreño CA, Ling J, Ribas de Pouplana L, Yang X, Ibba M, Becker H, Fischer F, Sissler M, Carter CW, Wills PR. AARS Online: A collaborative database on the structure, function, and evolution of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. IUBMB Life 2024; 76:1091-1105. [PMID: 39247978 PMCID: PMC11580382 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) are a large group of enzymes that implement the genetic code in all known biological systems. They attach amino acids to their cognate tRNAs, moonlight in various translational and non-translational activities beyond aminoacylation, and are linked to many genetic disorders. The aaRS have a subtle ontology characterized by structural and functional idiosyncrasies that vary from organism to organism, and protein to protein. Across the tree of life, the 22 coded amino acids are handled by 16 evolutionary families of Class I aaRS and 21 families of Class II aaRS. We introduce AARS Online, an interactive Wikipedia-like tool curated by an international consortium of field experts. This platform systematizes existing knowledge about the aaRS by showcasing a taxonomically diverse selection of aaRS sequences and structures. Through its graphical user interface, AARS Online facilitates a seamless exploration between protein sequence and structure, providing a friendly introduction to the material for non-experts and a useful resource for experts. Curated multiple sequence alignments can be extracted for downstream analyses. Accessible at www.aars.online, AARS Online is a free resource to delve into the world of the aaRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Douglas
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of AucklandNew Zealand
- Centre for Computational EvolutionUniversity of AucklandNew Zealand
| | - Haissi Cui
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of TorontoCanada
| | - John J. Perona
- Department of ChemistryPortland State UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
| | - Oscar Vargas‐Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular Biology and BiophysicsUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
| | - Henna Tyynismaa
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
| | | | - Jiqiang Ling
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMarylandUSA
| | - Lluís Ribas de Pouplana
- Institute for Research in BiomedicineThe Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaCataloniaSpain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced StudiesBarcelonaCataloniaSpain
| | - Xiang‐Lei Yang
- Department of Molecular MedicineThe Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michael Ibba
- Biological SciencesChapman UniversityOrangeCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hubert Becker
- Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique MicrobiologiqueUniversity of StrasbourgFrance
| | - Frédéric Fischer
- Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique MicrobiologiqueUniversity of StrasbourgFrance
| | - Marie Sissler
- Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique MicrobiologiqueUniversity of StrasbourgFrance
| | - Charles W. Carter
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Peter R. Wills
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of AucklandNew Zealand
- Centre for Computational EvolutionUniversity of AucklandNew Zealand
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2
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Patra S, Douglas J, Wills P, Betts L, Qing T, Carter C. A genomic database furnishes minimal functional glycyl-tRNA synthetases homologous to other, designed class II urzymes. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:13305-13324. [PMID: 39494520 PMCID: PMC11602164 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2024] [Indexed: 11/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The hypothesis that conserved core catalytic sites could represent ancestral aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARS) drove the design of functional TrpRS, LeuRS, and HisRS 'urzymes'. We describe here new urzymes detected in the genomic record of the arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus. They are homologous to the α-subunit of bacterial heterotetrameric Class II glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS-B) enzymes. AlphaFold2 predicted that the N-terminal 81 amino acids would adopt a 3D structure nearly identical to our designed HisRS urzyme (HisCA1). We expressed and purified that N-terminal segment and the spliced open reading frame GlyCA1-2. Both exhibit robust single-turnover burst sizes and ATP consumption rates higher than those previously published for HisCA urzymes and comparable to those for LeuAC and TrpAC. GlyCA is more than twice as active in glycine activation by adenosine triphosphate as the full-length GlyRS-B α2 dimer. Michaelis-Menten rate constants for all three substrates reveal significant coupling between Exon2 and both substrates. GlyCA activation favors Class II amino acids that complement those favored by HisCA and LeuAC. Structural features help explain these results. These minimalist GlyRS catalysts are thus homologous to previously described urzymes. Their properties reinforce the notion that urzymes may have the requisite catalytic activities to implement a reduced, ancestral genetic coding alphabet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Kumar Patra
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260, USA
| | - Jordan Douglas
- Department of Physics, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1042, New Zealand
- Centre for Computational Evolution, University of Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Peter R Wills
- Department of Physics, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1042, New Zealand
| | - Laurie Betts
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260, USA
| | - Tang Guo Qing
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260, USA
| | - Charles W Carter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260, USA
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3
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Di Giulio M. The polyphyletic origins of glycyl-tRNA synthetase and lysyl-tRNA synthetase and their implications. Biosystems 2024; 244:105287. [PMID: 39127441 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
I analyzed the polyphyletic origin of glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) and lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS), making plausible the following implications. The fact that the genetic code needed to evolve aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) only very late would be in perfect agreement with a late origin, in the main phyletic lineages, of both GlyRS and LysRS. Indeed, as suggested by the coevolution theory, since the genetic code was structured by biosynthetic relationships between amino acids and as these occurred on tRNA-like molecules which were evidently already loaded with amino acids during its structuring, this made possible a late origin of ARSs. All this corroborates the coevolution theory of the origin of the genetic code to the detriment of theories which would instead predict an early intervention of the action of ARSs in organizing the genetic code. Furthermore, the assembly of the GlyRS and LysRS protein domains in main phyletic lineages is itself at least evidence of the possibility that ancestral genes were assembled using pieces of genetic material that coded these protein domains. This is in accordance with the exon theory of genes which postulates that ancestral exons coded for protein domains or modules that were assembled to form the first genes. This theory is exemplified precisely in the evolution of both GlyRS and LysRS which occurred through the assembly of protein domains in the main phyletic lineages, as analyzed here. Furthermore, this late assembly of protein domains of these proteins into the two main phyletic lineages, i.e. a polyphyletic origin of both GlyRS and LysRS, appears to corroborate the progenote evolutionary stage for both LUCA and at least the first part of the evolutionary stages of the ancestor of bacteria and that of archaea. Indeed, this polyphyletic origin would imply that the genetic code was still evolving because at least two ARSs, i.e. proteins that make the genetic code possible today, were still evolving. This would imply that the evolutionary stages involved were characterized not by cells but by protocells, that is, by progenotes because this is precisely the definition of a progenote. This conclusion would be strengthened by the observation that both GlyRS and LysRS originating in the phyletic lineages leading to bacteria and archaea, would demonstrate that, more generally, proteins were most likely still in rapid and progressive evolution. Namely, a polyphyletic origin of proteins which would qualify at least the initial phase of the evolutionary stage of the ancestor of bacteria and that of archaea as stages belonging to the progenote.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Di Giulio
- The Ionian School, Early Evolution of Life Department, Genetic Code and tRNA Origin Laboratory, Via Roma 19, 67030, Alfedena, L'Aquila, Italy.
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4
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Patra SK, Douglas J, Wills PR, Bouckeart R, Betts L, Qing TG, Carter CW. Genomic database furnishes a spontaneous example of a functional Class II glycyl-tRNA synthetase urzyme. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.11.575260. [PMID: 38260702 PMCID: PMC10802616 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.11.575260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The chief barrier to studies of how genetic coding emerged is the lack of experimental models for ancestral aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARS). We hypothesized that conserved core catalytic sites could represent such ancestors. That hypothesis enabled engineering functional "urzymes" from TrpRS, LeuRS, and HisRS. We describe here a fourth urzyme, GlyCA, detected in an open reading frame from the genomic record of the arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus. GlyCA is homologous to a bacterial heterotetrameric Class II GlyRS-B. Alphafold2 predicted that the N-terminal 81 amino acids would adopt a 3D structure nearly identical to the HisRS urzyme (HisCA1). We expressed and purified that N-terminal segment. Enzymatic characterization revealed a robust single-turnover burst size and a catalytic rate for ATP consumption well in excess of that previously published for HisCA1. Time-dependent aminoacylation of tRNAGly proceeds at a rate consistent with that observed for amino acid activation. In fact, GlyCA is actually 35 times more active in glycine activation by ATP than the full-length GlyRS-B α-subunit dimer. ATP-dependent activation of the 20 canonical amino acids favors Class II amino acids that complement those favored by HisCA and LeuAC. These properties reinforce the notion that urzymes represent the requisite ancestral catalytic activities to implement a reduced genetic coding alphabet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Kumar Patra
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260
| | - Jordan Douglas
- Department of Physics, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Computational Evolution, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Peter R. Wills
- Department of Physics, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Remco Bouckeart
- Centre for Computational Evolution, University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Laurie Betts
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260
| | | | - Charles W. Carter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260
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Alvarez-Carreño C, Arciniega M, Ribas de Pouplana L, Petrov AS, Hernández-González A, Dimas-Torres JU, Valencia-Sánchez MI, Williams LD, Torres-Larios A. Common evolutionary origins of the bacterial glycyl tRNA synthetase and alanyl tRNA synthetase. Protein Sci 2023; 33:e4844. [PMID: 38009704 PMCID: PMC10895455 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) establish the genetic code. Each aaRS covalently links a given canonical amino acid to a cognate set of tRNA isoacceptors. Glycyl tRNA aminoacylation is unusual in that it is catalyzed by different aaRSs in different lineages of the Tree of Life. We have investigated the phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary history of bacterial glycyl tRNA synthetase (bacGlyRS). This enzyme is found in early diverging bacterial phyla such as Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, and Proteobacteria, but not in archaea or eukarya. We observe relationships between each of six domains of bacGlyRS and six domains of four different RNA-modifying proteins. Component domains of bacGlyRS show common ancestry with (i) the catalytic domain of class II tRNA synthetases; (ii) the HD domain of the bacterial RNase Y; (iii) the body and tail domains of the archaeal CCA-adding enzyme; (iv) the anti-codon binding domain of the arginyl tRNA synthetase; and (v) a previously unrecognized domain that we call ATL (Ancient tRNA latch). The ATL domain has been found thus far only in bacGlyRS and in the universal alanyl tRNA synthetase (uniAlaRS). Further, the catalytic domain of bacGlyRS is more closely related to the catalytic domain of uniAlaRS than to any other aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. The combined results suggest that the ATL and catalytic domains of these two enzymes are ancestral to bacGlyRS and uniAlaRS, which emerged from common protein ancestors by bricolage, stepwise accumulation of protein domains, before the last universal common ancestor of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Alvarez-Carreño
- NASA Center for the Origin of Life, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Marcelino Arciniega
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lluís Ribas de Pouplana
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Anton S Petrov
- NASA Center for the Origin of Life, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Adriana Hernández-González
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jorge-Uriel Dimas-Torres
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Marco Igor Valencia-Sánchez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Loren Dean Williams
- NASA Center for the Origin of Life, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Alfredo Torres-Larios
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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Nagato Y, Yamashita S, Ohashi A, Furukawa H, Takai K, Tomita K, Tomikawa C. Mechanism of tRNA recognition by heterotetrameric glycyl-tRNA synthetase from lactic acid bacteria. J Biochem 2023; 174:291-303. [PMID: 37261968 PMCID: PMC10464925 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycyl-tRNA synthetases (GlyRSs) have different oligomeric structures depending on the organisms. While a dimeric α2 GlyRS species is present in archaea, eukaryotes and some eubacteria, a heterotetrameric α2β2 GlyRS species is found in most eubacteria. Here, we present the crystal structure of heterotetrameric α2β2 GlyRS, consisting of the full-length α and β subunits, from Lactobacillus plantarum (LpGlyRS), gram-positive lactic bacteria. The α2β2LpGlyRS adopts the same X-shaped structure as the recently reported Escherichia coli α2β2 GlyRS. A tRNA docking model onto LpGlyRS suggests that the α and β subunits of LpGlyRS together recognize the L-shaped tRNA structure. The α and β subunits of LpGlyRS together interact with the 3'-end and the acceptor region of tRNAGly, and the C-terminal domain of the β subunit interacts with the anticodon region of tRNAGly. The biochemical analysis using tRNA variants showed that in addition to the previously defined determinants G1C72 and C2G71 base pairs, C35, C36 and U73 in eubacterial tRNAGly, the identification of bases at positions 4 and 69 in tRNAGly is required for efficient glycylation by LpGlyRS. In this case, the combination of a purine base at Position 4 and a pyrimidine base at Position 69 in tRNAGly is preferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuha Nagato
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Seisuke Yamashita
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Azusa Ohashi
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Haruyuki Furukawa
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Takai
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Kozo Tomita
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Chie Tomikawa
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
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7
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Han L, Luo Z, Ju Y, Chen B, Zou T, Wang J, Xu J, Gu Q, Yang XL, Schimmel P, Zhou H. The binding mode of orphan glycyl-tRNA synthetase with tRNA supports the synthetase classification and reveals large domain movements. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf1027. [PMID: 36753552 PMCID: PMC9908026 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf1027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As a class of essential enzymes in protein translation, aminoacyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetases (aaRSs) are organized into two classes of 10 enzymes each, based on two conserved active site architectures. The (αβ)2 glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) in many bacteria is an orphan aaRS whose sequence and unprecedented X-shaped structure are distinct from those of all other aaRSs, including many other bacterial and all eukaryotic GlyRSs. Here, we report a cocrystal structure to elucidate how the orphan GlyRS kingdom specifically recognizes its substrate tRNA. This structure is sharply different from those of other aaRS-tRNA complexes but conforms to the clash-free, cross-class aaRS-tRNA docking found with conventional structures and reinforces the class-reconstruction paradigm. In addition, noteworthy, the X shape of orphan GlyRS is condensed with the largest known spatial rearrangement needed by aaRSs to capture tRNAs, which suggests potential nonactive site targets for aaRS-directed antibiotics, instead of less differentiated hard-to-drug active site locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Han
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhiteng Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingchen Ju
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bingyi Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Taotao Zou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Junjian Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qiong Gu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Paul Schimmel
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Huihao Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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8
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Ganesh RB, Maerkl SJ. Biochemistry of Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase and tRNAs and Their Engineering for Cell-Free and Synthetic Cell Applications. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:918659. [PMID: 35845409 PMCID: PMC9283866 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.918659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free biology is increasingly utilized for engineering biological systems, incorporating novel functionality, and circumventing many of the complications associated with cells. The central dogma describes the information flow in biology consisting of transcription and translation steps to decode genetic information. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (AARSs) and tRNAs are key components involved in translation and thus protein synthesis. This review provides information on AARSs and tRNA biochemistry, their role in the translation process, summarizes progress in cell-free engineering of tRNAs and AARSs, and discusses prospects and challenges lying ahead in cell-free engineering.
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9
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Furukawa R, Yokobori SI, Sato R, Kumagawa T, Nakagawa M, Katoh K, Yamagishi A. Amino Acid Specificity of Ancestral Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase Prior to the Last Universal Common Ancestor Commonote commonote. J Mol Evol 2022; 90:73-94. [PMID: 35084522 PMCID: PMC8821087 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-021-10043-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Extant organisms commonly use 20 amino acids in protein synthesis. In the translation system, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) selectively binds an amino acid and transfers it to the cognate tRNA. It is postulated that the amino acid repertoire of ARS expanded during the development of the translation system. In this study we generated composite phylogenetic trees for seven ARSs (SerRS, ProRS, ThrRS, GlyRS-1, HisRS, AspRS, and LysRS) which are thought to have diverged by gene duplication followed by mutation, before the evolution of the last universal common ancestor. The composite phylogenetic tree shows that the AspRS/LysRS branch diverged from the other five ARSs at the deepest node, with the GlyRS/HisRS branch and the other three ARSs (ThrRS, ProRS and SerRS) diverging at the second deepest node. ThrRS diverged next, and finally ProRS and SerRS diverged from each other. Based on the phylogenetic tree, sequences of the ancestral ARSs prior to the evolution of the last universal common ancestor were predicted. The amino acid specificity of each ancestral ARS was then postulated by comparison with amino acid recognition sites of ARSs of extant organisms. Our predictions demonstrate that ancestral ARSs had substantial specificity and that the number of amino acid types amino-acylated by proteinaceous ARSs was limited before the appearance of a fuller range of proteinaceous ARS species. From an assumption that 10 amino acid species are required for folding and function, proteinaceous ARS possibly evolved in a translation system composed of preexisting ribozyme ARSs, before the evolution of the last universal common ancestor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryutaro Furukawa
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.,Faculty of Human Science, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Yokobori
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Riku Sato
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taimu Kumagawa
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mizuho Nakagawa
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Katoh
- Department of Genome Informatics, Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yamagishi
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
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10
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Ju Y, Han L, Chen B, Luo Z, Gu Q, Xu J, Yang XL, Schimmel P, Zhou H. X-shaped structure of bacterial heterotetrameric tRNA synthetase suggests cryptic prokaryote functions and a rationale for synthetase classifications. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10106-10119. [PMID: 34390350 PMCID: PMC8464048 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AaRSs (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases) group into two ten-member classes throughout evolution, with unique active site architectures defining each class. Most are monomers or homodimers but, for no apparent reason, many bacterial GlyRSs are heterotetramers consisting of two catalytic α-subunits and two tRNA-binding β-subunits. The heterotetrameric GlyRS from Escherichia coli (EcGlyRS) was historically tested whether its α- and β-polypeptides, which are encoded by a single mRNA with a gap of three in-frame codons, are replaceable by a single chain. Here, an unprecedented X-shaped structure of EcGlyRS shows wide separation of the abutting chain termini seen in the coding sequences, suggesting strong pressure to avoid a single polypeptide format. The structure of the five-domain β-subunit is unique across all aaRSs in current databases, and structural analyses suggest these domains play different functions on α-subunit binding, ATP coordination and tRNA recognition. Moreover, the X-shaped architecture of EcGlyRS largely fits with a model for how two classes of tRNA synthetases arose, according to whether enzymes from opposite classes can simultaneously co-dock onto separate faces of the same tRNA acceptor stem. While heterotetrameric GlyRS remains the last structurally uncharacterized member of aaRSs, our study contributes to a better understanding of this ancient and essential enzyme family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingchen Ju
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lu Han
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bingyi Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhiteng Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qiong Gu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Paul Schimmel
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Huihao Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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11
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Abstract
The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are an essential and universally distributed family of enzymes that plays a critical role in protein synthesis, pairing tRNAs with their cognate amino acids for decoding mRNAs according to the genetic code. Synthetases help to ensure accurate translation of the genetic code by using both highly accurate cognate substrate recognition and stringent proofreading of noncognate products. While alterations in the quality control mechanisms of synthetases are generally detrimental to cellular viability, recent studies suggest that in some instances such changes facilitate adaption to stress conditions. Beyond their central role in translation, synthetases are also emerging as key players in an increasing number of other cellular processes, with far-reaching consequences in health and disease. The biochemical versatility of the synthetases has also proven pivotal in efforts to expand the genetic code, further emphasizing the wide-ranging roles of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family in synthetic and natural biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Rubio Gomez
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Michael Ibba
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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12
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Takénaka A, Moras D. Correlation between equi-partition of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and amino-acid biosynthesis pathways. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:3277-3285. [PMID: 31965182 PMCID: PMC7102985 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The partition of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) into two classes of equal size and the correlated amino acid distribution is a puzzling still unexplained observation. We propose that the time scale of the amino-acid synthesis, assumed to be proportional to the number of reaction steps (NE) involved in the biosynthesis pathway, is one of the parameters that controlled the timescale of aaRSs appearance. Because all pathways are branched at fructose-6-phosphate on the metabolic pathway, this product is defined as the common origin for the NE comparison. For each amino-acid, the NE value, counted from the origin to the final product, provides a timescale for the pathways to be established. An archeological approach based on NE reveals that aaRSs of the two classes are generated in pair along this timescale. The results support the coevolution theory for the origin of the genetic code with an earlier appearance of class II aaRSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akio Takénaka
- Research Institute, Chiba Institute of Technology, 2-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, Chiba 275-0016, Japan.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, Liaoning 117004, China
| | - Dino Moras
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC) 1 rue Laurent Fries, Illkirch 67404, France.,Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 7104, France.,Institut National de Santé et de Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1258, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
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13
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Glycyl-tRNA synthetase from Nanoarchaeum equitans: The first crystal structure of archaeal GlyRS and analysis of its tRNA glycylation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 511:228-233. [PMID: 30771900 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.01.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This study reports the X-ray crystallographic structure of the glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) of Nanoarchaeum equitans - a hyperthermophilic archaeal species. This is the first archaeal GlyRS crystal structure elucidated. The GlyRS comprises an N-terminal catalytic domain and a C-terminal anticodon-binding domain with a long β-sheet inserted between these domains. An unmodified transcript of the wild-type N. equitans tRNAGly was successfully glycylated using GlyRS. Substitution of the discriminator base A73 of tRNAGly with any other nucleotide caused a significant decrease in glycylation activity. Mutational analysis of the second base-pair C2G71 of the acceptor stem of tRNAGly elucidated the importance of the base-pair, especially G71, as an identity element for recognition by GlyRS. Glycylation assays using tRNAGly G71 substitution mutants and a GlyRS mutant where Arg223 is mutated to alanine strengthen the possibility that the carbonyl oxygen at position 6 of G71 would hydrogen-bond with the guanidine nitrogen of Arg223 in N. equitans GlyRS.
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14
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Pak D, Kim Y, Burton ZF. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase evolution and sectoring of the genetic code. Transcription 2018; 9:205-224. [PMID: 29727262 PMCID: PMC6104698 DOI: 10.1080/21541264.2018.1467718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic code sectored via tRNA charging errors, and the code progressed toward closure and universality because of evolution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) fidelity and translational fidelity mechanisms. Class I and class II aaRS folds are identified as homologs. From sequence alignments, a structurally conserved Zn-binding domain common to class I and class II aaRS was identified. A model for the class I and class II aaRS alternate folding pathways is posited. Five mechanisms toward code closure are highlighted: 1) aaRS proofreading to remove mischarged amino acids from tRNA; 2) accurate aaRS active site specification of amino acid substrates; 3) aaRS-tRNA anticodon recognition; 4) conformational coupling proofreading of the anticodon-codon interaction; and 5) deamination of tRNA wobble adenine to inosine. In tRNA anticodons there is strong wobble sequence preference that results in a broader spectrum of contacts to synonymous mRNA codon wobble bases. Adenine is excluded from the anticodon wobble position of tRNA unless it is modified to inosine. Uracil is generally preferred to cytosine in the tRNA anticodon wobble position. Because of wobble ambiguity when tRNA reads mRNA, the maximal coding capacity of the three nucleotide code read by tRNA is 31 amino acids + stops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daewoo Pak
- Center for Statistical Training and Consulting, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | | | - Zachary F. Burton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, 603 Wilson Rd, E. Lansing, MI 48824-1319, USA
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15
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He LS, Zhang PW, Huang JM, Zhu FC, Danchin A, Wang Y. The Enigmatic Genome of an Obligate Ancient Spiroplasma Symbiont in a Hadal Holothurian. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:e01965-17. [PMID: 29054873 PMCID: PMC5734040 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01965-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Protective symbiosis has been reported in many organisms, but the molecular mechanisms of the mutualistic interactions between the symbionts and their hosts are unclear. Here, we sequenced the 424-kbp genome of "Candidatus Spiroplasma holothuricola," which dominated the hindgut microbiome of a sea cucumber, a major scavenger captured in the Mariana Trench (6,140 m depth). Phylogenetic relationships indicated that the dominant bacterium in the hindgut was derived from a basal group of Spiroplasma species. In this organism, the genes responsible for the biosynthesis of amino acids, glycolysis, and sugar transporters were lost, strongly suggesting endosymbiosis. The highly decayed genome consists of two chromosomes and harbors genes coding for proteolysis, microbial toxin, restriction-methylation systems, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs), composed of three cas genes and 76 CRISPR spacers. The holothurian host is probably protected against invading viruses from sediments by the CRISPRs/Cas and restriction systems of the endosymbiotic spiroplasma. The protective endosymbiosis indicates the important ecological role of the ancient Spiroplasma symbiont in the maintenance of hadal ecosystems.IMPORTANCE Sea cucumbers are major inhabitants in hadal trenches. They collect microbes in surface sediment and remain tolerant against potential pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This study presents the genome of endosymbiotic spiroplasmas in the gut of a sea cucumber captured in the Mariana Trench. The extreme reduction of the genome and loss of essential metabolic pathways strongly support its endosymbiotic lifestyle. Moreover, a considerable part of the genome was occupied by a CRISPR/Cas system to provide immunity against viruses and antimicrobial toxin-encoding genes for the degradation of microbes. This novel species of Spiroplasma is probably an important protective symbiont for the sea cucumbers in the hadal zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Sheng He
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Pei-Wei Zhang
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Jiao-Mei Huang
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Fang-Chao Zhu
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Antoine Danchin
- Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Yong Wang
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China
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16
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Chaliotis A, Vlastaridis P, Mossialos D, Ibba M, Becker HD, Stathopoulos C, Amoutzias GD. The complex evolutionary history of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:1059-1068. [PMID: 28180287 PMCID: PMC5388404 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) are a superfamily of enzymes responsible for the faithful translation of the genetic code and have lately become a prominent target for synthetic biologists. Our large-scale analysis of >2500 prokaryotic genomes reveals the complex evolutionary history of these enzymes and their paralogs, in which horizontal gene transfer played an important role. These results show that a widespread belief in the evolutionary stability of this superfamily is misconceived. Although AlaRS, GlyRS, LeuRS, IleRS, ValRS are the most stable members of the family, GluRS, LysRS and CysRS often have paralogs, whereas AsnRS, GlnRS, PylRS and SepRS are often absent from many genomes. In the course of this analysis, highly conserved protein motifs and domains within each of the AARS loci were identified and used to build a web-based computational tool for the genome-wide detection of AARS coding sequences. This is based on hidden Markov models (HMMs) and is available together with a cognate database that may be used for specific analyses. The bioinformatics tools that we have developed may also help to identify new antibiotic agents and targets using these essential enzymes. These tools also may help to identify organisms with alternative pathways that are involved in maintaining the fidelity of the genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anargyros Chaliotis
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Panayotis Vlastaridis
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Dimitris Mossialos
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Michael Ibba
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Hubert D Becker
- Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique, Microbiologie, UMR 7156, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 4 allée Konrad Röntgen, Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | | | - Grigorios D Amoutzias
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
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