Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Transfer RNA Synthesis02:36

Transfer RNA Synthesis

11.9K
One of the unique features of tRNA is the presence of modified bases. In some tRNAs, modified bases account for nearly 20% of the total bases in the molecule. Altogether, these unusual bases protect the tRNA from enzymatic degradation by RNases.
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...
11.9K
Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends01:35

Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends

9.2K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
9.2K
tRNA Activation02:26

tRNA Activation

19.1K
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are present in both eukaryotes and bacteria. Though eukaryotes have 20 different aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases to couple to 20 amino acids, many bacteria do not have genes for all of these aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Despite this, they still use all 20 amino acids to synthesize their proteins. For instance, some bacteria do not have the gene encoding the enzyme that couples glutamine with its partner tRNA. In these organisms, one enzyme adds glutamic acid to all of the...
19.1K
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing02:41

Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing

7.0K
In eukaryotic cells, nascent mRNA transcripts need to undergo many post-transcriptional modifications to reach the cell cytoplasm and translate into functional proteins. For a long time, transcription and pre-mRNA processing were considered two independent events that occur sequentially in the cell. However, it has now been well established that transcription and pre-mRNA processing are two simultaneous processes that are precisely regulated inside the cell.
The chromatin structure, especially...
7.0K
pre-mRNA Processing02:01

pre-mRNA Processing

52.8K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
52.8K
RNA Structure01:19

RNA Structure

4.7K
The basic structure of RNA consists of a string of ribonucleotides attached by phosphodiester bonds. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA) involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three...
4.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

QutRNA2: robust tRNA modification discovery from Nanopore direct tRNA sequencing.

NAR genomics and bioinformatics·2026
Same author

The two-step purification method ViREn identifies a single NSUN6-mediated 5-methylcytosine modification promoting dengue virus RNA genome turnover.

Nucleic acids research·2026
Same author

Microbial metabolites shape mammalian protein translation.

Cell metabolism·2025
Same author

Fibrillarin-dependent 2'-O-methylation modulates RPS28 ribosome incorporation and oncogenic translation.

Cancer letters·2025
Same author

Interdomain assembly between the fungal tRNA ligase adenylyltransferase and kinase domain.

RNA (New York, N.Y.)·2025
Same author

Queuosine is incorporated into precursor tRNA before splicing.

Nature communications·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2025

An In Vitro Assay to Detect tRNA-Isopentenyl Transferase Activity
07:46

An In Vitro Assay to Detect tRNA-Isopentenyl Transferase Activity

Published on: October 8, 2018

6.9K

Interplay Between tRNA Modifications and Processing.

Jirka Peschek1, Francesca Tuorto2

  • 1Heidelberg University, Biochemistry Center (BZH), Heidelberg, Germany.

Journal of Molecular Biology
|May 22, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are crucial for protein synthesis and undergo complex processing and chemical modifications. This review details tRNA maturation in eukaryotes, highlighting enzyme functions and structural insights.

Keywords:
enzyme-tRNA complexestRNAtRNA maturationtRNA modificationstRNA processing

More Related Videos

Characterizing RNA Modifications in Single Neurons Using Mass Spectrometry
08:45

Characterizing RNA Modifications in Single Neurons Using Mass Spectrometry

Published on: April 21, 2022

2.3K
Analysis of RNA Processing Reactions Using Cell Free Systems: 3' End Cleavage of Pre-mRNA Substrates in vitro
09:16

Analysis of RNA Processing Reactions Using Cell Free Systems: 3' End Cleavage of Pre-mRNA Substrates in vitro

Published on: May 3, 2014

12.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2025

An In Vitro Assay to Detect tRNA-Isopentenyl Transferase Activity
07:46

An In Vitro Assay to Detect tRNA-Isopentenyl Transferase Activity

Published on: October 8, 2018

6.9K
Characterizing RNA Modifications in Single Neurons Using Mass Spectrometry
08:45

Characterizing RNA Modifications in Single Neurons Using Mass Spectrometry

Published on: April 21, 2022

2.3K
Analysis of RNA Processing Reactions Using Cell Free Systems: 3' End Cleavage of Pre-mRNA Substrates in vitro
09:16

Analysis of RNA Processing Reactions Using Cell Free Systems: 3' End Cleavage of Pre-mRNA Substrates in vitro

Published on: May 3, 2014

12.8K

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • RNA Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are essential for protein synthesis, decoding genetic information at the ribosome.
  • tRNA biosynthesis involves extensive processing and chemical modifications, unique in their variety and abundance among RNA classes.
  • Current understanding heavily relies on yeast models, but findings are translatable to higher eukaryotes, including humans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the sequential hierarchy and interplay of tRNA processing and modification steps in eukaryotic cells.
  • To summarize knowledge on mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNAs, as well as tRNA-like structures.
  • To highlight recent structural studies illuminating enzyme-tRNA complex functions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current knowledge on tRNA biosynthesis, processing, and modification.
  • Analysis of studies focusing on yeast models and their applicability to higher eukaryotes.
  • Synthesis of recent structural biology findings related to enzyme-tRNA interactions.

Main Results:

  • Detailed overview of the dynamic and sequential nature of tRNA maturation pathways.
  • Identification of key enzymes and their roles in tRNA processing and modification.
  • Emphasis on conserved mechanisms across different eukaryotic compartments (cytoplasmic and mitochondrial).

Conclusions:

  • tRNA maturation is a highly regulated, multi-step process critical for cellular function.
  • Understanding these pathways in yeast provides a framework for studying human tRNA biology.
  • Structural insights are crucial for deciphering the mechanisms of enzyme-mediated tRNA modifications.