Interstrand Aminoacyl Transfer in a tRNA Acceptor Stem-Overhang Mimic.

ABSTRACT: Protein-catalyzed aminoacylation of the 3'-overhang of tRNA by an aminoacyl-adenylate could not have taken place prior to the advent of genetically coded peptide synthesis, and yet the latter process has an absolute requirement for aminoacyl-tRNA. There must therefore have been an earlier nonprotein-catalyzed means of generating aminoacyl-tRNA. Here, we demonstrate efficient interstrand aminoacyl transfer from an aminoacyl phosphate mixed anhydride at the 5'-terminus of a tRNA acceptor stem mimic to the 2',3'-diol terminus of a short 3'-overhang. With certain five-base 3'-overhangs, the transfer of an alanyl residue is highly stereoselective with the l-enantiomer being favored to the extent of ∼10:1 over the d-enantiomer and is much more efficient than the transfer of a glycyl residue.

SUBMITTER: Wu LF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8397310 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature