Cys-tRNACys formation and cysteine biosynthesis in methanogenic archaea: two faces of the same problem?

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2004 Oct;61(19-20):2437-45. doi: 10.1007/s00018-004-4194-9.

Abstract

Aminoacyl-tRNA (transfer RNA) synthetases are essential components of the cellular translation machinery as they provide the ribosome with aminoacyl-tRNAs. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis is generally well understood. However, the mechanism of Cys-tRNACys formation in three methanogenic archaea ( Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus and Methanopyrus kandleri) is still unknown, since no recognizable gene for a canonical cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase could be identified in the genome sequences of these organisms. Here we review the different routes recently proposed for Cys-tRNACys formation and discuss its possible link with cysteine biosynthesis in these methanogenic archaea.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Archaea / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Cysteine / biosynthesis*
  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • Genes, Archaeal*
  • Methane / chemistry
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Molecular
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Protein Conformation
  • RNA / chemistry
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl / chemistry*

Substances

  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl
  • RNA
  • Cysteine
  • Methane