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Functional convergence of two lysyl-tRNA synthetases with unrelated topologies
Takaho Terada1, Osamu Nureki, Ryuichiro Ishitani
1RIKEN Genomic Sciences Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.
Abstract:
Lysyl-tRNA can be synthesized by both a class I (LysRS-I) and a class II (LysRS-II) lysyl-tRNA synthetase. The crystal structure of LysRS-I from Pyrococcus horikoshii at 2.6 A resolution reveals extensive similarity with glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS). A comparison of the structures of LysRS-I and LysRS-II in complex with lysine shows that both enzymes use similar strategies for substrate recognition within unrelated active site topologies. A docking model based upon the GluRS-tRNA complex suggests how LysRS-I and LysRS-II can recognize the same molecular determinants in tRNALys, as shown by biochemical results, while approaching the acceptor helix of the tRNA from opposite sides.