In almost all eubacteria, the AUA codon is translated by tRNAIle2 bearing lysidine at the wobble position. Lysidine is introduced by tRNAIle lysidine synthetase (TilS) via post-transcriptional modification of the cytidine of tRNAIle2 (CAU). Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum have tilS homologues and tRNAIle2 (CAU) genes. In addition, L. casei also has another tRNAIle2 gene with an UAU anticodon. L. plantarum has a tRNAIle (UAU)-like RNA. Here, we demonstrate that L. casei tRNAIle2 (UAU) is charged with isoleucine by L. casei isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS) but not by L. plantarum IleRS, even though the amino acid identity of these two enzymes is over 60%. It has been reported that, in Mycoplasma mobile, which has its tRNAIle2 (UAU) but no tilS homologue, an Arg residue at position 865 of the IleRS is required for recognition of the UAU anticodon. This position is occupied by an Arg also in the IleRSs from both of the Lactobacillus species. Thus, other residues in L. casei, IleRS should also contribute to the recognition of tRNAIle2 (UAU). We found that a chimeric L. casei IleRS in which the N-terminal domain was replaced by the corresponding region of L. plantatarum IleRS has very low aminoacylation activity towards both tRNAIle2 (UAU) and tRNAIle1 (GAU). The A18G mutant had barely detectable aminoacylation activity towards either of the tRNAsIle . However, a double point mutant of A18G and G19N aminoacylated tRNAIle1 (GAU), but not tRNAIle2 (UAU). Our results suggest that, for L. casei IleRS, Ala18 and Gly19 also play a critical role in recognition of tRNAIle2 (UAU).
Keywords: aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase; aminoacylation; rare codon; tRNA modification; translation.
© 2022 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.