In vivo formation of glutamyl-tRNA(Gln) in Escherichia coli by heterologous glutamyl-tRNA synthetases

FEBS Lett. 2004 Jan 16;557(1-3):133-5. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)01460-1.

Abstract

Two types of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase exist: the discriminating enzyme (D-GluRS) forms only Glu-tRNA(Glu), while the non-discriminating one (ND-GluRS) also synthesizes Glu-tRNA(Gln), a required intermediate in protein synthesis in many organisms (but not in Escherichia coli). Testing the capacity to complement a thermosensitive E. coli gltX mutant and to suppress an E. coli trpA49 missense mutant we examined the properties of heterologous gltX genes. We demonstrate that while Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans GluRS1 and Bacillus subtilis Q373R GluRS form Glu-tRNA(Glu), A. ferrooxidans and Helicobacter pylori GluRS2 form Glu-tRNA(Gln) in E. coli in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Primers
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Glutamate-tRNA Ligase / genetics
  • Glutamate-tRNA Ligase / metabolism*
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl / metabolism*
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl
  • glutamyl-tRNA(Gln)
  • Glutamate-tRNA Ligase