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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

An In Vitro Assay to Detect tRNA-Isopentenyl Transferase Activity
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tRNA modification and cancer: potential for therapeutic prevention and intervention

Lauren Endres1, Michael Fasullo2, Rebecca Rose3

  • 1State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, College of Arts & Sciences, Utica, NY, USA.

Future Medicinal Chemistry
|February 13, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications, regulated by tRNA methyltransferases (TRMs), impact cellular responses to stress and cancer. Aberrant TRM activity drives cancer phenotypes by altering codon-biased translation.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are chemically modified by tRNA methyltransferases (TRMs).
  • The dynamic nature of tRNA modifications and their roles in stress response and cancer remain incompletely understood.
  • Codon-biased transcripts are crucial for cellular responses to oxidative stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how tRNA modifications influence the translation of codon-biased transcripts during oxidative stress.
  • To explore the mechanistic roles of aberrant TRM activity in cancer cell phenotypes.
  • To discuss potential therapeutic strategies targeting TRM-dependent translation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on tRNA modifications, oxidative stress, and cancer.
  • Analysis of mechanisms linking TRM activity to codon-biased translation.
  • Discussion of emerging research on TRM function in tumorigenesis.

Main Results:

  • TRNA modifications affect the translation of specific transcripts involved in stress response.
  • Aberrant TRM activity in cancer cells promotes pro-tumorigenic phenotypes through codon-biased translation.
  • Studies suggest a link between TRM activity and cancer progression.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting TRM activity offers potential for novel cancer therapies.
  • Augmenting TRM activity may serve as a preventative strategy for at-risk individuals.
  • Inhibiting TRM-dependent translation could impede cancer progression with minimal impact on healthy cells.
Keywords:
anticodoncancercodon-biasmodificationoxidative stresstRNA

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