A minimal TrpRS catalytic domain supports sense/antisense ancestry of class I and II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

Phylogeny of Toll-like receptor signaling: adapting the innate response

The Toll-like receptors represent a largely evolutionarily conserved pathogen recognition machinery responsible for recognition of bacterial, fungal, protozoan, and viral pathogen associated microbial patterns and initiation of inflammatory response. Structurally the Toll-like receptors are comprised of an extracellular leucine rich repeat domain and a cytoplasmic Toll/Interleukin 1 receptor domain. Recognition takes place in the extracellular domain where as the cytoplasmic domain triggers a complex signal network required to sustain appropriate immune response. Signal transduction is regulated by the recruitment of different intracellular adaptors. The Toll-like receptors can be grouped depending on the usage of the adaptor, MyD88, into MyD88-dependent and MyD88 independent subsets. Herein, we present a unique phylogenetic analysis of domain regions of these receptors and their cognate signaling adaptor molecules. Although previously unclear from the phylogeny of full length receptors, these analyses indicate a separate evolutionary origin for the MyD88-dependent and MyD88-independent signaling pathway and provide evidence of a common ancestor for the vertebrate and invertebrate orthologs of the adaptor molecule MyD88. Together these observations suggest a very ancient origin of the MyD88-dependent pathway Additionally we show that early duplications gave rise to several adaptor molecule families. In some cases there is also strong pattern of parallel duplication between adaptor molecules and their corresponding TLR. Our results further support the hypothesis that phylogeny of specific domains involved in signaling pathway can shed light on key processes that link innate to adaptive immune response.

Synthetic and editing mechanisms of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) ensure the faithful transmission of genetic information in all living cells. The 24 known aaRS families are divided into 2 structurally distinct classes (class I and class II), each featuring a catalytic domain with a common fold that binds ATP, amino acid, and the 3'-terminus of tRNA. In a common two-step reaction, each aaRS first uses the energy stored in ATP to synthesize an activated aminoacyl adenylate intermediate. In the second step, either the 2'- or 3'-hydroxyl oxygen atom of the 3'-A76 tRNA nucleotide functions as a nucleophile in synthesis of aminoacyl-tRNA. Ten of the 24 aaRS families are unable to distinguish cognate from noncognate amino acids in the synthetic reactions alone. These enzymes possess additional editing activities for hydrolysis of misactivated amino acids and misacylated tRNAs, with clearance of the latter species accomplished in spatially separate post-transfer editing domains. A distinct class of trans-acting proteins that are homologous to class II editing domains also perform hydrolytic editing of some misacylated tRNAs. Here we review essential themes in catalysis with a view toward integrating the kinetic, stereochemical, and structural mechanisms of the enzymes. Although the aaRS have now been the subject of investigation for many decades, it will be seen that a significant number of questions regarding fundamental catalytic functioning still remain unresolved.

Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases in the Bacterial World

Aminoacyl-tRNAsynthetases (aaRSs) are modular enzymesglobally conserved in the three kingdoms of life. All catalyze the same two-step reaction, i.e., the attachment of a proteinogenic amino acid on their cognate tRNAs, thereby mediating the correct expression of the genetic code. In addition, some aaRSs acquired other functions beyond this key role in translation.Genomics and X-ray crystallography have revealed great structural diversity in aaRSs (e.g.,in oligomery and modularity, in ranking into two distinct groups each subdivided in 3 subgroups, by additional domains appended on the catalytic modules). AaRSs show hugestructural plasticity related to function andlimited idiosyncrasies that are kingdom or even speciesspecific (e.g.,the presence in many Bacteria of non discriminating aaRSs compensating for the absence of one or two specific aaRSs, notably AsnRS and/or GlnRS).Diversity, as well, occurs in the mechanisms of aaRS gene regulation that are not conserved in evolution, notably betweendistant groups such as Gram-positive and Gram-negative Bacteria.Thereview focuses on bacterial aaRSs (and their paralogs) and covers their structure, function, regulation,and evolution. Structure/function relationships are emphasized, notably the enzymology of tRNA aminoacylation and the editing mechanisms for correction of activation and charging errors. The huge amount of genomic and structural data that accumulatedin last two decades is reviewed,showing how thefield moved from essentially reductionist biologytowards more global and integrated approaches. Likewise, the alternative functions of aaRSs and those of aaRSparalogs (e.g., during cellwall biogenesis and other metabolic processes in or outside protein synthesis) are reviewed. Since aaRS phylogenies present promiscuous bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryal features, similarities and differences in the properties of aaRSs from the three kingdoms of life are pinpointedthroughout the reviewand distinctive characteristics of bacterium-like synthetases from organelles are outlined.

A master switch couples Mg²⁺-assisted catalysis to domain motion in B. stearothermophilus tryptophanyl-tRNA Synthetase

We demonstrate how tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase uses conformation-dependent Mg(2+) activation to couple catalysis of tryptophan activation to specific, functional domain movements. Rate acceleration by Mg(2+) requires ∼-6.0 kcal/mol in protein⋅Mg(2+) interaction energy, none of which arises from the active site. A highly cooperative interaction between Mg(2+) and four residues from a remote, conserved motif that mediates the shear of domain movement (1) destabilizes the pretransition state conformation, thereby (2) inducing the Mg(2+) to stabilize the transition state for k(cat) by ∼-5.0 kcal/mol. Cooperative, long-range conformational effects on the metal therefore convert an inactive Mg(2+) coordination into one that can stabilize the transition state if, and only if, domain motion occurs. Transient, conformation-dependent Mg(2+) activation, analogous to the escapement in mechanical clocks, explains vectorial coupling.

The phylogenomic roots of modern biochemistry: origins of proteins, cofactors and protein biosynthesis

The complexity of modern biochemistry developed gradually on early Earth as new molecules and structures populated the emerging cellular systems. Here, we generate a historical account of the gradual discovery of primordial proteins, cofactors, and molecular functions using phylogenomic information in the sequence of 420 genomes. We focus on structural and functional annotations of the 54 most ancient protein domains. We show how primordial functions are linked to folded structures and how their interaction with cofactors expanded the functional repertoire. We also reveal protocell membranes played a crucial role in early protein evolution and show translation started with RNA and thioester cofactor-mediated aminoacylation. Our findings allow elaboration of an evolutionary model of early biochemistry that is firmly grounded in phylogenomic information and biochemical, biophysical, and structural knowledge. The model describes how primordial α-helical bundles stabilized membranes, how these were decorated by layered arrangements of β-sheets and α-helices, and how these arrangements became globular. Ancient forms of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) catalytic domains and ancient non-ribosomal protein synthetase (NRPS) modules gave rise to primordial protein synthesis and the ability to generate a code for specificity in their active sites. These structures diversified producing cofactor-binding molecular switches and barrel structures. Accretion of domains and molecules gave rise to modern aaRSs, NRPS, and ribosomal ensembles, first organized around novel emerging cofactors (tRNA and carrier proteins) and then more complex cofactor structures (rRNA). The model explains how the generation of protein structures acted as scaffold for nucleic acids and resulted in crystallization of modern translation.

Histidyl-tRNA synthetase urzymes: Class I and II aminoacyl tRNA synthetase urzymes have comparable catalytic activities for cognate amino acid activation

Four minimal (119-145 residue) active site fragments of Escherichia coli Class II histidyl-tRNA synthetase were constructed, expressed as maltose-binding protein fusions, and assayed for histidine activation as fusion proteins and after TEV cleavage, using the (32)PP(i) exchange assay. All contain conserved Motifs 1 and 2. Two contain an N-terminal extension of Motif 1 and two contain Motif 3. Five experimental results argue strongly for the authenticity of the observed catalytic activities: (i) active site titration experiments showing high (∼0.1-0.55) fractions of active molecules, (ii) release of cryptic activity by TEV cleavage of the fusion proteins, (iii) reduced activity associated with an active site mutation, (iv) quantitative attribution of increased catalytic activity to the intrinsic effects of Motif 3, the N-terminal extension and their synergistic effect, and (v) significantly altered K(m) values for both ATP and histidine substrates. It is therefore plausible that neither the insertion domain nor Motif 3 were essential for catalytic activity in the earliest Class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. The mean rate enhancement of all four cleaved constructs is ∼10(9) times that of the estimated uncatalyzed rate. As observed for the tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TrpRS) Urzyme, these fragments bind ATP tightly but have reduced affinity for cognate amino acids. These fragments thus likely represent Urzymes (Ur = primitive, original, earliest + enzyme) comparable in size and catalytic activity and coded by sequences proposed to be antisense to that coding the previously described Class I TrpRS Urzyme. Their catalytic activities provide metrics for experimental recapitulation of very early evolutionary events.

On origin of genetic code and tRNA before translation

BACKGROUND

Synthesis of proteins is based on the genetic code - a nearly universal assignment of codons to amino acids (aas). A major challenge to the understanding of the origins of this assignment is the archetypal "key-lock vs. frozen accident" dilemma. Here we re-examine this dilemma in light of 1) the fundamental veto on "foresight evolution", 2) modular structures of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and 3) the updated library of aa-binding sites in RNA aptamers successfully selected in vitro for eight amino acids.

RESULTS

The aa-binding sites of arginine, isoleucine and tyrosine contain both their cognate triplets, anticodons and codons. We have noticed that these cases might be associated with palindrome-dinucleotides. For example, one-base shift to the left brings arginine codons CGN, with CG at 1-2 positions, to the respective anticodons NCG, with CG at 2-3 positions. Formally, the concomitant presence of codons and anticodons is also expected in the reverse situation, with codons containing palindrome-dinucleotides at their 2-3 positions, and anticodons exhibiting them at 1-2 positions. A closer analysis reveals that, surprisingly, RNA binding sites for Arg, Ile and Tyr "prefer" (exactly as in the actual genetic code) the anticodon(2-3)/codon(1-2) tetramers to their anticodon(1-2)/codon(2-3) counterparts, despite the seemingly perfect symmetry of the latter. However, since in vitro selection of aa-specific RNA aptamers apparently had nothing to do with translation, this striking preference provides a new strong support to the notion of the genetic code emerging before translation, in response to catalytic (and possibly other) needs of ancient RNA life. Consistently with the pre-translation origin of the code, we propose here a new model of tRNA origin by the gradual, Fibonacci process-like, elongation of a tRNA molecule from a primordial coding triplet and 5'DCCA3' quadruplet (D is a base-determinator) to the eventual 76 base-long cloverleaf-shaped molecule.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our findings necessarily imply that primordial tRNAs, tRNA aminoacylating ribozymes, and (later) the translation machinery in general have been co-evolving to ''fit'' the (likely already defined) genetic code, rather than the opposite way around. Coding triplets in this primal pre-translational code were likely similar to the anticodons, with second and third nucleotides being more important than the less specific first one. Later, when the code was expanding in co-evolution with the translation apparatus, the importance of 2-3 nucleotides of coding triplets "transferred" to the 1-2 nucleotides of their complements, thus distinguishing anticodons from codons. This evolutionary primacy of anticodons in genetic coding makes the hypothesis of primal stereo-chemical affinity between amino acids and cognate triplets, the hypothesis of coding coenzyme handles for amino acids, the hypothesis of tRNA-like genomic 3' tags suggesting that tRNAs originated in replication, and the hypothesis of ancient ribozymes-mediated operational code of tRNA aminoacylation not mutually contradicting but rather co-existing in harmony.

Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase Urzyme: a model to recapitulate molecular evolution and investigate intramolecular complementation

We substantiate our preliminary description of the class I tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase minimal catalytic domain with details of its construction, structure, and steady-state kinetic parameters. Generating that active fragment involved deleting 65% of the contemporary enzyme, including the anticodon-binding domain and connecting peptide 1, CP1, a 74-residue internal segment from within the Rossmann fold. We used protein design (Rosetta), rather than phylogenetic sequence alignments, to identify mutations to compensate for the severe loss of modularity, thus restoring stability, as evidenced by renaturation described previously and by 70-ns molecular dynamics simulations. Sufficient solubility to enable biochemical studies was achieved by expressing the redesigned Urzyme as a maltose-binding protein fusion. Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters from amino acid activation assays showed that, compared with the native full-length enzyme, TrpRS Urzyme binds ATP with similar affinity. This suggests that neither of the two deleted structural modules has a strong influence on ground-state ATP binding. However, tryptophan has 10(3) lower affinity, and the Urzyme has comparably reduced specificity relative to the related amino acid, tyrosine. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed how CP1 may contribute significantly to cognate amino acid specificity. As class Ia editing domains are nested within the CP1, this finding suggests that this module enhanced amino acid specificity continuously, throughout their evolution. We call this type of reconstructed protein catalyst an Urzyme (Ur prefix indicates original, primitive, or earliest). It establishes a model for recapitulating very early steps in molecular evolution in which fitness may have been enhanced by accumulating entire modules, rather than by discrete amino acid sequence changes.

New functions of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases beyond translation

Over the course of evolution, eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) progressively incorporated domains and motifs that have no essential connection to aminoacylation reactions. Their accretive addition to virtually all aaRSs correlates with the progressive evolution and complexity of eukaryotes. Based on recent experimental findings focused on a few of these additions and analysis of the aaRS proteome, we propose that they are markers for aaRS-associated functions beyond translation.

On primordial sense-antisense coding

The genetic code is implemented by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS). These 20 enzymes are divided into two classes that, despite performing same functions, have nothing common in structure. The mystery of this striking partition of aaRSs might have been concealed in their sterically complementary modes of tRNA recognition that, as we have found recently, protect the tRNAs with complementary anticodons from confusion in translation. This finding implies that, in the beginning, life increased its coding repertoire by the pairs of complementary codons (rather than one-by-one) and used both complementary strands of genes as templates for translation. The class I and class II aaRSs may represent one of the most important examples of such primordial sense-antisense (SAS) coding (Rodin and Ohno, Orig Life Evol Biosph 25:565-589, 1995). In this report, we address the issue of SAS coding in a wider scope. We suggest a variety of advantages that such coding would have had in exploring a wider sequence space before translation became highly specific. In particular, we confirm that in Achlya klebsiana a single gene might have originally coded for an HSP70 chaperonin (class II aaRS homolog) and an NAD-specific GDH-like enzyme (class I aaRS homolog) via its sense and antisense strands. Thus, in contrast to the conclusions in Williams et al. (Mol Biol Evol 26:445-450, 2009), this could indeed be a "Rosetta stone" gene (Carter and Duax, Mol Cell 10:705-708, 2002) (eroded somewhat, though) for the SAS origin of the two aaRS classes.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis and translational quality control

Translating the 4-letter code of RNA into the 22-letter alphabet of proteins is a central feature of cellular life. The fidelity with which mRNA is translated during protein synthesis is determined by two factors: the availability of aminoacyl-tRNAs composed of cognate amino acid:tRNA pairs and the accurate selection of aminoacyl-tRNAs on the ribosome. The role of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in translation is to define the genetic code by accurately pairing cognate tRNAs with their corresponding amino acids. Synthetases achieve the amino acid substrate specificity necessary to keep errors in translation to an acceptable level in two ways: preferential binding of the cognate amino acid and selective editing of near-cognate amino acids. Editing significantly decreases the frequency of errors and is important for translational quality control, and many details of the various editing mechanisms and their effect on different cellular systems are now starting to emerge.

Mg2+-assisted catalysis by B. stearothermophilus TrpRS is promoted by allosteric effects

Mn(2+)-assisted catalysis by B. stearothermophilus TrpRS parallels that in polymerases and reduces specificity in amino acid activation. As predicted by nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, multivariant thermodynamic cycles with [ATP]-dependent Michaelis-Menten kinetics and Mn(2+) for Mg(2+) substitution demonstrate energetic coupling of ATP affinities to the metal; to lysines K111 and K192, which interact via the PPi leaving group; and to K195, which couples differently to the metal via the alpha-phosphate. However, net coupling to the metal opposes catalysis in both ground (K(M)) and transition (k(cat)) states. The 10(5)-fold rate acceleration by Mg(2+)-protein interactions therefore requires additional favorable protein-metal couplings. Examples include longer-range, i.e., allosteric, interactions previously illustrated by the remote F37I mutation, which both reduces k(cat) and enhances catalytic assist by Mn(2+), relative to that by Mg(2+). These data support a model linking metal-assisted phosphoryl transfer catalysis to domain movement, and hence to free-energy transduction in a broad range of enzymes.

The origin of the genetic code and of the earliest oligopeptides

Reconstruction of the earliest proteins in the ancient binary alphabet [glycine family G, alanine family A] leads to repeats of G alternating with repeats of A. In addition, omnipresent motifs can be assembled in two of the earliest genes involved in energy supply, crucial for Life, i.e. ATP/GTP binding and ATPase activity. They are an almost perfect match to the alternating G and A and are complementary to each other.

Analyses of conditions for KMSSS loop in tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase by building a mutant library

The KMSKS motif is the ATP binding motif for aminoacylation process of class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Although researches based on natural proteins inform us about the contribution of natural amino acid sequences for the catalysis, they have difficulties in discussing the other alternative sequences and prohibited sequences for the motif to maintain the catalytic ability. In order to reveal such the conditions for the alternative and prohibited sequences, it is important to investigate a library of various mutants for the motif. For that purpose, we build a library of more than 200 mutants substituting the KMSSS loop, Lys204-Met205-Ser206-Ser207-Ser208, in tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase of Methanococcus jannaschii, and their catalytic abilities were examined by the Amber suppression method. Mutants of K204R and K204N still maintained catalytic abilities to a certain extent. On the other hand, a variety of alternative sequences for Ser206-Ser207-Ser208 were obtained, and some of those did not include either Ser or Thr, which were regarded as necessary residues in the KMSKS motif in previous works. In this article, catalytic activity of all the mutants are represented in detail and some suggestions for the condition of the motif are discussed.

Reaction mechanism of the epsilon subunit of E. coli DNA polymerase III: insights into active site metal coordination and catalytically significant residues

The 28 kDa epsilon subunit of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III is the exonucleotidic proofreader responsible for editing polymerase insertion errors. Here, we study the mechanism by which epsilon carries out the exonuclease activity. We performed quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations on the N-terminal domain containing the exonuclease activity. Both the free-epsilon and a complex epsilon bound to a theta homologue (HOT) were studied. For the epsilon-HOT complex Mg(2+) or Mn(2+) were investigated as the essential divalent metal cofactors, while only Mg(2+) was used for free-epsilon. In all calculations a water molecule bound to the catalytic metal acts as the nucleophile for hydrolysis of the phosphate bond. Initially, a direct proton transfer to H162 is observed. Subsequently, the nucleophilic attack takes place followed by a second proton transfer to E14. Our results show that the reaction catalyzed with Mn(2+) is faster than that with Mg(2+), in agreement with experiment. In addition, the epsilon-HOT complex shows a slightly lower energy barrier compared to free-epsilon. In all cases the catalytic metal is observed to be pentacoordinated. Charge and frontier orbital analyses suggest that charge transfer may stabilize the pentacoordination. Energy decomposition analysis to study the contribution of each residue to catalysis suggests that there are several important residues. Among these, H98, D103, D129, and D146 have been implicated in catalysis by mutagenesis studies. Some of these residues were found to be structurally conserved on human TREX1, the exonuclease domains from E. coli DNA-Pol I, and the DNA polymerase of bacteriophage RB69.

One ancestor for two codes viewed from the perspective of two complementary modes of tRNA aminoacylation

BACKGROUND

The genetic code is brought into action by 20 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. These enzymes are evenly divided into two classes (I and II) that recognize tRNAs from the minor and major groove sides of the acceptor stem, respectively. We have reported recently that: (1) ribozymic precursors of the synthetases seem to have used the same two sterically mirror modes of tRNA recognition, (2) having these two modes might have helped in preventing erroneous aminoacylation of ancestral tRNAs with complementary anticodons, yet (3) the risk of confusion for the presumably earliest pairs of complementarily encoded amino acids had little to do with anticodons. Accordingly, in this communication we focus on the acceptor stem.

RESULTS

Our main result is the emergence of a palindrome structure for the acceptor stem's common ancestor, reconstructed from the phylogenetic trees of Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya. In parallel, for pairs of ancestral tRNAs with complementary anticodons, we present updated evidence of concerted complementarity of the second bases in the acceptor stems. These two results suggest that the first pairs of "complementary" amino acids that were engaged in primordial coding, such as Gly and Ala, could have avoided erroneous aminoacylation if and only if the acceptor stems of their adaptors were recognized from the same, major groove, side. The class II protein synthetases then inherited this "primary preference" from isofunctional ribozymes.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that the genetic code per se (the one associated with the anticodons) and the operational code of aminoacylation (associated with the acceptor) diverged from a common ancestor that probably began developing before translation. The primordial advantage of linking some amino acids (most likely glycine and alanine) to the ancestral acceptor stem may have been selective retention in a protocell surrounded by a leaky membrane for use in nucleotide and coenzyme synthesis. Such acceptor stems (as cofactors) thus transferred amino acids as groups for biosynthesis. Later, with the advent of an anticodon loop, some amino acids (such as aspartic acid, histidine, arginine) assumed a catalytic role while bound to such extended adaptors, in line with the original coding coenzyme handle (CCH) hypothesis.

A chimaeric glutamyl:glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase: implications for evolution

aaRSs (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases) are multi-domain proteins that have evolved by domain acquisition. The anti-codon binding domain was added to the more ancient catalytic domain during aaRS evolution. Unlike in eukaryotes, the anti-codon binding domains of GluRS (glutamyl-tRNA synthetase) and GlnRS (glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase) in bacteria are structurally distinct. This originates from the unique evolutionary history of GlnRSs. Starting from the catalytic domain, eukaryotic GluRS evolved by acquiring the archaea/eukaryote-specific anti-codon binding domain after branching away from the eubacteria family. Subsequently, eukaryotic GlnRS evolved from GluRS by gene duplication and horizontally transferred to bacteria. In order to study the properties of the putative ancestral GluRS in eukaryotes, formed immediately after acquiring the anti-codon binding domain, we have designed and constructed a chimaeric protein, cGluGlnRS, consisting of the catalytic domain, Ec GluRS (Escherichia coli GluRS), and the anti-codon binding domain of EcGlnRS (E. coli GlnRS). In contrast to the isolated EcN-GluRS, cGluGlnRS showed detectable activity of glutamylation of E. coli tRNAglu and was capable of complementing an E. coli ts (temperature-sensitive)-GluRS strain at non-permissive temperatures. Both cGluGlnRS and EcN-GluRS were found to bind E. coli tRNAglu with native EcGluRS-like affinity, suggesting that the anticodon-binding domain in cGluGlnRS enhances kcat for glutamylation. This was further confirmed from similar experiments with a chimaera between EcN-GluRS and the substrate-binding domain of EcDnaK (E. coli DnaK). We also show that an extended loop, present in the anticodon-binding domains of GlnRSs, is absent in archaeal GluRS, suggesting that the loop was a later addition, generating additional anti-codon discrimination capability in GlnRS as it evolved from GluRS in eukaryotes.

Development of tRNA synthetases and connection to genetic code and disease

The genetic code is established by the aminoacylation reactions of aminoacyl tRNA synthetases, where amino acids are matched with triplet anticodons imbedded in the cognate tRNAs. The code established in this way is so robust that it gave birth to the entire tree of life. The tRNA synthetases are organized into two classes, based on their active site architectures. The details of this organization, and other considerations, suggest how the synthetases evolved by gene duplications, and how early proteins may have been statistical in nature, that is, products of a primitive code where one of several similar amino acids was used at a specific position in a polypeptide. The emergence of polypeptides with unique, defined sequences--true chemical entities--required extraordinary specificity of the aminoacylation reaction. This high specificity was achieved by editing activities that clear errors of aminoacylation and thereby prevent mistranslation. Defects in editing activities can be lethal and lead to pathologies in mammalian cells in culture. Even a mild defect in editing is casually associated with neurological disease in the mouse. Defects in editing are also mutagenic in an aging organism and suggest how mistranslation can lead to mutations that are fixed in the genome. Thus, clearance of mischarged tRNAs by the editing activities of tRNA synthetases was essential for development of the tree of life and has a role in the etiology of diseases that is just now being understood.

On the origin of the genetic code: signatures of its primordial complementarity in tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

If the table of the genetic code is rearranged to put complementary codons face-to-face, it becomes apparent that the code displays latent mirror symmetry with respect to two sterically different modes of tRNA recognition. These modes involve distinct classes of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs I and II) with recognition from the minor or major groove sides of the acceptor stem, respectively. We analyze the anticodon pairs complementary to the face-to-face codon couplets. Taking into account the invariant nucleotides on either side (5' and 3'), we consider the risk of anticodon confusion and subsequent erroneous aminoacylation in the ancestral coding system. This logic leads to the conclusion that ribozymic precursors of tRNA synthetases had the same two complementary modes of tRNA aminoacylation. This surprising case of molecular mimicry (1) shows a key potential selective advantage arising from the partitioning of aaRSs into two classes, (2) is consistent with the hypothesis that the two aaRS classes were originally encoded by the complementary strands of the same primordial gene and (3) provides a 'missing link' between the classic genetic code, embodied in the anticodon, and the second, or RNA operational, code that is embodied mostly in the acceptor stem and is directly responsible for proper tRNA aminoacylation.

Mg2+-free Bacillus stearothermophilus tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase retains a major fraction of the overall rate enhancement for tryptophan activation

Few experimental data are available for rates of enzymatic phosphoryl-transfer reactions in the absence of the divalent metal ions associated with such reactions. Such data are of interest for amino acid activation by class Ic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, for which there is substantial evidence that binding energy of ATP may account for a major fraction of the overall rate enhancement, and it is crucial to know if these effects themselves depend on the divalent metal ion. We describe a nested, nonlinear model for the sum of metal-free and metal-catalyzed activities and its use in determining metal-free enzyme activity jointly with transition-state metal binding affinity, by fitting observed values obtained from Mg2+-depleted assays with increasing [EDTA] at known [Mg2+]total. Tryptophan activation by Bacillus stearothermophilus tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase falls asymptotically to a plateau value 5 orders of magnitude below that observed for the Mg2+-supplemented enzyme at EDTA concentrations that reduce the free metal concentration to <1 pmolar. The fitted regression model parameters yield a relative rate acceleration of 9.3 x 10(4) attributable to the catalytic effect of Mg2+ and an enhanced (K(E)(double dagger) = 1.15 x 10(-7) M) transition-state binding of Mg2+. Factorial analysis indicates that 80% of the reduction in free energy of activation effected by TrpRS arises from protein-ligand interactions.

A conformational transition state accompanies tryptophan activation by B. stearothermophilus tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase

B. stearothermophilus tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase catalysis proceeds via high-energy protein conformations. Unliganded MD trajectories of the pretransition-state complex with Mg(2+)ATP and the (post) transition-state analog complex with adenosine tetraphosphate relax rapidly in opposite directions, the former regressing, the latter progressing along the structural reaction coordinate. The two crystal structures (rmsd 0.7 A) therefore lie on opposite sides of a conformational free-energy maximum as the chemical transition state forms. SNAPP analysis illustrates the complexity of the associated long-range conformational coupling. Switching interactions in four nonpolar core regions are locally isoenergetic throughout the transition. Different configurations, however, propagate their effects to unfavorable, longer-range interactions at the molecular surface. Designed mutation shows that switching interactions enhance the rate, perhaps by destabilizing the ground state immediately before the transition state and limiting nonproductive diffusion before and after the chemical transition state, thereby reducing the activation entropy. This paradigm may apply broadly to energy-transducing enzymes.

Human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase is switched to a tRNA-dependent mode for tryptophan activation by mutations at V85 and I311

For most aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS), their cognate tRNA is not obligatory to catalyze amino acid activation, with the exception of four class I (aaRS): arginyl-tRNA synthetase, glutamyl-tRNA synthetase, glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase and class I lysyl-tRNA synthetase. Furthermore, for arginyl-, glutamyl- and glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase, the integrated 3' end of the tRNA is necessary to activate the ATP-PPi exchange reaction. Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase is a class I aaRS that catalyzes tryptophan activation in the absence of its cognate tRNA. Here we describe mutations located at the appended β1–β2 hairpin and the AIDQ sequence of human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase that switch this enzyme to a tRNA-dependent mode in the tryptophan activation step. For some mutant enzymes, ATP-PPi exchange activity was completely lacking in the absence of tRNA^Trp, which could be partially rescued by adding tRNA^Trp, even if it had been oxidized by sodium periodate. Therefore, these mutant enzymes have strong similarity to arginyl-tRNA synthetase, glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase and glutamyl-tRNA synthetase in their mode of amino acid activation. The results suggest that an aaRS that does not normally require tRNA for amino acid activation can be switched to a tRNA-dependent mode.

Crystal structure of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase complexed with adenosine-5' tetraphosphate: evidence for distributed use of catalytic binding energy in amino acid activation by class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TrpRS) is a functionally dimeric ligase, which specifically couples hydrolysis of ATP to AMP and pyrophosphate to the formation of an ester bond between tryptophan and the cognate tRNA. TrpRS from Bacillus stearothermophilus binds the ATP analogue, adenosine-5' tetraphosphate (AQP) competitively with ATP during pyrophosphate exchange. Estimates of binding affinity from this competitive inhibition and from isothermal titration calorimetry show that AQP binds 200 times more tightly than ATP both under conditions of induced-fit, where binding is coupled to an unfavorable conformational change, and under exchange conditions, where there is no conformational change. These binding data provide an indirect experimental measurement of +3.0 kcal/mol for the conformational free energy change associated with induced-fit assembly of the active site. Thermodynamic parameters derived from the calorimetry reveal very modest enthalpic changes, consistent with binding driven largely by a favorable entropy change. The 2.5 A structure of the TrpRS:AQP complex, determined de novo by X-ray crystallography, resembles that of the previously described, pre-transition state TrpRS:ATP complexes. The anticodon-binding domain untwists relative to the Rossmann-fold domain by 20% of the way toward the orientation observed for the Products complex. An unexpected tetraphosphate conformation allows the gamma and deltad phosphate groups to occupy positions equivalent to those occupied by the beta and gamma phosphates of ATP. The beta-phosphate effects a 1.11 A extension that relocates the alpha-phosphate toward the tryptophan carboxylate while the PPi mimic moves deeper into the KMSKS loop. This configuration improves interactions between enzyme and nucleotide significantly and uniformly in the adenosine and PPi binding subsites. A new hydrogen bond forms between S194 from the class I KMSKS signature sequence and the PPi mimic. These complementary thermodynamic and structural data are all consistent with the conclusion that the tetraphosphate mimics a transition-state in which the KMSKS loop develops increasingly tight bonds to the PPi leaving group, weakening linkage to the Palpha as it is relocated by an energetically favorable domain movement. Consistent with extensive mutational data on Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, this aspect of the mechanism develops high transition-state affinity for the adenosine and pyrophosphate moieties, which move significantly, relative to one another, during the catalytic step.