Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Genome-wide Analysis of Aminoacylation (Charging) Levels of tRNA Using Microarrays
Published on: June 19, 2010
Selective charging of tRNA isoacceptors induced by amino-acid starvation
Kimberly A Dittmar1, Michael A Sørensen, Johan Elf
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, 920 East 58th street, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Abstract:
Aminoacylated (charged) transfer RNA isoacceptors read different messenger RNA codons for the same amino acid. The concentration of an isoacceptor and its charged fraction are principal determinants of the translation rate of its codons. A recent theoretical model predicts that amino-acid starvation results in 'selective charging' where the charging levels of some tRNA isoacceptors will be low and those of others will remain high. Here, we developed a microarray for the analysis of charged fractions of tRNAs and measured charging for all Escherichia coli tRNAs before and during leucine, threonine or arginine starvation. Before starvation, most tRNAs were fully charged. During starvation, the isoacceptors in the leucine, threonine or arginine families showed selective charging when cells were starved for their cognate amino acid, directly confirming the theoretical prediction. Codons read by isoacceptors that retain high charging can be used for efficient translation of genes that are essential during amino-acid starvation. Selective charging can explain anomalous patterns of codon usage in the genes for different families of proteins.
More Related Videos
11:47Residue-specific Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids into Model Proteins Using an Escherichia coli Cell-free Transcription-translation System
Published on: August 1, 2016
10:34Quantification of the Abundance and Charging Levels of Transfer RNAs in Escherichia coli
Published on: August 22, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Transfer RNA Synthesis
Each of these chemical modifications is carried by a specific enzyme, post-transcription. All of these enzymes have unique base and site-specificity. Methylation, the most common chemical modification, is carried by at least nine different enzymes, with...
tRNA Activation
Improving Translational Accuracy
Leaky Scanning
Tail-anchoring of Proteins in the ER Membrane
Stringent Response in E. coli