RNA mimicry in post‐transcriptional regulation by aminoacyl tRNA synthetases

Abstract

Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRS) are well studied for their roles in tRNA charging with cognate amino acid. Nevertheless, numerous lines of evidence indicate that these proteins have roles other than tRNA charging. These include coordination of cellular signaling cascades, induction of cytokines outside the cell and transcription regulation. Herein, we focus on their roles in post‐transcriptional regulation of mRNA expression. We describe functions that are related to antitermination of transcription, RNA splicing and mRNA translation. Cases were recognition of mRNA by the aaRS involves recognition of tRNA‐like structures are described. Such recognition may be achieved by repurposing tRNA‐binding domains or through domains added to the aaRS later in evolution. Furthermore, we describe cases in which binding by aaRS is implicated in autogenous regulation of expression. Overall, we propose RNA‐mimicry as a common mode of interaction between aaRS and mRNA which allows efficient expression regulation. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > tRNA Processing RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications Translation > Translation Regulation

Rational Design of Aptamer-Tagged tRNAs

“…Can an aaRS variant having an additional heterologous anticodon binding domain (ABD) be recruited to tRNA via the V-arm which mimics the anticodon arm that can be recognized by the ABD? In other words, can a pseudo-anticodon arm moiety [ 1 , 56 ] on tRNAs work as an aptamer for the ABD and contribute to aminoacylation enhancement? Here, the full-length HisRSs, HisRS catalytic domains (CDs), and HisRS ABDs of two α-Proteobacteria species and their tRNA His anticodon arm were used.…”

“…RNA aptamers are small RNA molecules that specifically bind to their target molecules. Small hairpin RNA aptamers are naturally found in certain mRNAs [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] and other RNAs [ 4 ]. Diverse hairpin aptamers have been used for tagging many kinds of RNA molecules for recruiting their cognate target proteins or ligands on the fusion RNA molecules [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

Drosophila Models for Charcot–Marie–Tooth Neuropathy Related to Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases

“…Protein translation is primarily regulated at the level of initiation and aaRS have already been implicated in this process by acting as a scaffold for the assembly of initiation components or by binding to target mRNAs [97][98][99][100]. For example, threonyl-tRNA synthetase (TARS1) is part of the translation initiation machinery and interacts with eIF4E, an eukaryotic translation initiation factor involved in directing ribosomes to the cap structure of mRNAs [100].…”

Bioinformatic Prediction of an tRNASec Gene Nested inside an Elongation Factor SelB Gene in Alphaproteobacteria

“…To the best of my knowledge, this is the first report of an entire tRNA sequence nested in the protein coding region of mRNA in bacteria, while tRNA-like structures of varying sizes and shapes have been found in the coding regions or untranslated regions of mRNAs in diverse organisms and viruses [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. It is known that tRNA genes are partially or fully integrated within protein genes or other tRNA genes in the compact mitochondrial genome of animals [ 17 , 24 ].…”