Metabolic origin of the fused aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase.

ABSTRACT: About 1 billion years ago, in a single-celled holozoan ancestor of all animals, a gene fusion of two tRNA synthetases formed the bifunctional enzyme, glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (EPRS). We propose here that a confluence of metabolic, biochemical, and environmental factors contributed to the specific fusion of glutamyl- (ERS) and prolyl- (PRS) tRNA synthetases. To test this idea, we developed a mathematical model that centers on the precursor-product relationship of glutamic acid and proline, as well as metabolic constraints on free glutamic acid availability near the time of the fusion event. Our findings indicate that proline content increased in the proteome during the emergence of animals, thereby increasing demand for free proline. Together, these constraints contributed to a marke

SUBMITTER: Eswarappa SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6295713 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature