DSSR-PyMOL cartoon-block schematics: PDB entry 2azx

PDB-id

2azx; DSSR-derived features in text and JSON formats

Class

ligase-RNA

Method

X-ray (2.8 Å)

Summary

Charged and uncharged trnas adopt distinct conformations when complexed with human tryptophanyl-trna synthetase

Reference

Yang XL, Otero FJ, Ewalt KL, Liu J, Swairjo MA, Kohrer C, RajBhandary UL, Skene RJ, McRee DE, Schimmel P (2006): "Two conformations of a crystalline human tRNA synthetase-tRNA complex: implications for protein synthesis." Embo J., 25, 2919-2929. doi: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601154.

Abstract

Aminoacylation of tRNA is the first step of protein synthesis. Here, we report the co-crystal structure of human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase and tRNATrp. This enzyme is reported to interact directly with elongation factor 1alpha, which carries charged tRNA to the ribosome. Crystals were generated from a 50/50% mixture of charged and uncharged tRNATrp. These crystals captured two conformations of the complex, which are nearly identical with respect to the protein and a bound tryptophan. They are distinguished by the way tRNA is bound. In one, uncharged tRNA is bound across the dimer, with anticodon and acceptor stem interacting with separate subunits. In this cross-dimer tRNA complex, the class I enzyme has a class II-like tRNA binding mode. This structure accounts for biochemical investigations of human TrpRS, including species-specific charging. In the other conformation, presumptive aminoacylated tRNA is bound only by the anticodon, the acceptor stem being free and having space to interact precisely with EF-1alpha, suggesting that the product of aminoacylation can be directly handed off to EF-1alpha for the next step of protein synthesis.