Deazaguanine derivatives, examples of crosstalk between RNA and DNA modification pathways

RNA Biol. 2017 Sep 2;14(9):1175-1184. doi: 10.1080/15476286.2016.1265200. Epub 2016 Dec 12.

Abstract

Seven-deazapurine modifications were thought to be highly specific of tRNAs, but have now been discovered in DNA of phages and of phylogenetically diverse bacteria, illustrating the plasticity of these modification pathways. The intermediate 7-cyano-7-deazaguanine (preQ0) is a shared precursor in the pathways leading to the insetion of 7-deazapurine derivatives in both tRNA and DNA. It is also used as an intermediate in the synthesis of secondary metabolites such as toyocamacin. The presence of 7-deazapurine in DNA is proposed to be a protection mechanism against endonucleases. This makes preQ0 a metabolite of underappreaciated but central importance.

Keywords: DNA; Deazaguanine modifications; tRNA.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Archaea / genetics
  • Archaea / metabolism
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Bacteriophages / genetics
  • Bacteriophages / metabolism
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • Eukaryota / genetics
  • Eukaryota / metabolism
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Guanine / analogs & derivatives
  • Guanine / chemistry
  • Guanine / metabolism
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways
  • Nucleoside Q / chemistry
  • Nucleoside Q / metabolism
  • RNA / chemistry
  • RNA / genetics
  • RNA / metabolism*
  • RNA, Transfer / chemistry
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism

Substances

  • Nucleoside Q
  • Guanine
  • RNA
  • DNA
  • RNA, Transfer