Biomaterial Database

Accuracy of tRNA charging and codon: anticodon recognition; relative importance for cellular stability. 1993

A Kowald, and T B Kirkwood

Laboratory of Mathematical Biology, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, U.K.

Cellular homeostasis and the mechanisms which control homeostasis are important for understanding such fundamental processes as ageing and the origin of life. Several models have studied the importance of accurate protein synthesis for cellular stability, but these models have not considered the complexities of the translation process in any detail. Here we develop a new model which describes the interplay between aminoacyl-tRNA (aatRNA) synthetases, the cellular pool of charged tRNAs and the process of codon: anticodon recognition. We also take the processive character of the ribosomes into account. In common with previous work, our model predicts that the cellular translation apparatus can either be stable or deteriorate progressively with time. However, because our model explicitly describes different subreactions of the overall translation process, we are also able to assess the relative importance of accurate tRNA charging and codon: anticodon recognition for cellular stability. It appears that the tRNA charging by the aatRNA synthetases plays the key role in controlling the long-term stability of the cell. Ribosomal errors are less important because error-prone ribosomes, being processive, produce mainly inactive proteins which do not contribute to error propagation within the translation machinery.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008957	Models, Genetic	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of genetic processes or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Genetic Models,Genetic Model,Model, Genetic
D002468	Cell Physiological Phenomena	Cellular processes, properties, and characteristics.	Cell Physiological Processes,Cell Physiology,Cell Physiological Phenomenon,Cell Physiological Process,Physiology, Cell,Phenomena, Cell Physiological,Phenomenon, Cell Physiological,Physiological Process, Cell,Physiological Processes, Cell,Process, Cell Physiological,Processes, Cell Physiological
D003062	Codon	A set of three nucleotides in a protein coding sequence that specifies individual amino acids or a termination signal (CODON, TERMINATOR). Most codons are universal, but some organisms do not produce the transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER) complementary to all codons. These codons are referred to as unassigned codons (CODONS, NONSENSE).	Codon, Sense,Sense Codon,Codons,Codons, Sense,Sense Codons
D000604	Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases	A subclass of enzymes that aminoacylate AMINO ACID-SPECIFIC TRANSFER RNA with their corresponding AMINO ACIDS.	Amino Acyl T RNA Synthetases,Amino Acyl-tRNA Ligases,Aminoacyl Transfer RNA Synthetase,Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase,Transfer RNA Synthetase,tRNA Synthetase,Acyl-tRNA Ligases, Amino,Acyl-tRNA Synthetases, Amino,Amino Acyl tRNA Ligases,Amino Acyl tRNA Synthetases,Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase,Ligases, Amino Acyl-tRNA,RNA Synthetase, Transfer,Synthetase, Aminoacyl-tRNA,Synthetase, Transfer RNA,Synthetase, tRNA,Synthetases, Amino Acyl-tRNA
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000926	Anticodon	The sequential set of three nucleotides in TRANSFER RNA that interacts with its complement in MESSENGER RNA, the CODON, during translation in the ribosome.	Anticodons
D012270	Ribosomes	Multicomponent ribonucleoprotein structures found in the CYTOPLASM of all cells, and in MITOCHONDRIA, and PLASTIDS. They function in PROTEIN BIOSYNTHESIS via GENETIC TRANSLATION.	Ribosome
D012343	RNA, Transfer	The small RNA molecules, 73-80 nucleotides long, that function during translation (TRANSLATION, GENETIC) to align AMINO ACIDS at the RIBOSOMES in a sequence determined by the mRNA (RNA, MESSENGER). There are about 30 different transfer RNAs. Each recognizes a specific CODON set on the mRNA through its own ANTICODON and as aminoacyl tRNAs (RNA, TRANSFER, AMINO ACYL), each carries a specific amino acid to the ribosome to add to the elongating peptide chains.	Suppressor Transfer RNA,Transfer RNA,tRNA,RNA, Transfer, Suppressor,Transfer RNA, Suppressor,RNA, Suppressor Transfer
D014176	Protein Biosynthesis	The biosynthesis of PEPTIDES and PROTEINS on RIBOSOMES, directed by MESSENGER RNA, via TRANSFER RNA that is charged with standard proteinogenic AMINO ACIDS.	Genetic Translation,Peptide Biosynthesis, Ribosomal,Protein Translation,Translation, Genetic,Protein Biosynthesis, Ribosomal,Protein Synthesis, Ribosomal,Ribosomal Peptide Biosynthesis,mRNA Translation,Biosynthesis, Protein,Biosynthesis, Ribosomal Peptide,Biosynthesis, Ribosomal Protein,Genetic Translations,Ribosomal Protein Biosynthesis,Ribosomal Protein Synthesis,Synthesis, Ribosomal Protein,Translation, Protein,Translation, mRNA,mRNA Translations