A fluorescence spectroscopic study of substrate-induced conformational changes in glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase

Glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli is a member of a subgroup of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that do not catalyze ATP-PPi exchange in the absence of the cognate tRNA. Such behavior suggests conformational changes upon substrate binding. Two different fluorescent probes, pyrenylmaleimide and acrylodan, were used to specifically label a nonessential sulfhydryl group of GlnRS. Conformational changes induced by substrates were studied using glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase labeled with these two environment-sensitive probes. ATP was shown to cause a significant conformational change that alters the mode of binding to tRNA(Gln) to GlnRS. The alteration of the salt sensitivity pattern of tRNA(Gln) binding to GlnRS by ATP supports this. Binding of tRNA(Gln) causes a conformational change that may be different in nature for the ATP/GlnRS complex and free GlnRS. Hydrodynamic parameters deduced from fluorescence polarization studies and the use of a noncovalent probe indicate that the ATP-induced conformational change may not be global in character.