TRNA modifying enzymes MnmE and MnmG are essential for <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> apicoplast maintenance.

ABSTRACT: The circular genome of the Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast contains a complete minimal set of tRNAs, positioning the apicoplast as an ideal model for studying the fundamental factors required for protein translation. Modifications at tRNA wobble base positions, such as xm⁵s²U, are critical for accurate protein translation. These modifications are ubiquitously found in tRNAs decoding two-family box codons ending in A or G in prokaryotes and in eukaryotic organelles. Here, we investigated the xm⁵s²U biosynthetic pathway in the apicoplast organelle of P. falciparum. Through comparative genomics, we identified orthologs of enzymes involved in this process: SufS, MnmA, MnmE, and MnmG. While SufS and MnmA were previously shown to catalyz

SUBMITTER: Elahi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11702754 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature