Biomaterial Database

Conformational flexibility of tRNA: structural changes in yeast tRNA(Asp) upon binding to aspartyl-tRNA synthetase. 1996

B Rees, and J Cavarelli, and D Moras

Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP, Illkirch, France.

The availability of several X-ray structures at atomic resolution of tRNA(Asp) from yeast, both in its free state and complexed with its cognate tRNA-synthetase, enables a detailed examination of the conformational changes due to interaction with the enzyme. Although the molecule conserves its general L shape, its conformation undergoes important modifications. They may be described as a bending of the two arms which brings the 3' acceptor end and the anticodon part closer together, completed by a drastic change of the anticodon loop, which puts the anticodon bases in a more exposed position, facilitating their interaction with the synthetase. The packing interactions in the crystals are also discussed. Finally, the results of protection studies by chemical probes in solution are discussed in view of the RNA-protein contacts observed in the crystals.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D009690	Nucleic Acid Conformation	The spatial arrangement of the atoms of a nucleic acid or polynucleotide that results in its characteristic 3-dimensional shape.	DNA Conformation,RNA Conformation,Conformation, DNA,Conformation, Nucleic Acid,Conformation, RNA,Conformations, DNA,Conformations, Nucleic Acid,Conformations, RNA,DNA Conformations,Nucleic Acid Conformations,RNA Conformations
D001226	Aspartate-tRNA Ligase	An enzyme that activates aspartic acid with its specific transfer RNA. EC 6.1.1.12.	Aspartyl T RNA Synthetase,Asp-tRNA Ligase,Aspartyl-tRNA Synthetase,Asp tRNA Ligase,Aspartate tRNA Ligase,Aspartyl tRNA Synthetase,Ligase, Asp-tRNA,Ligase, Aspartate-tRNA,Synthetase, Aspartyl-tRNA
D012349	RNA, Transfer, Asp	A transfer RNA which is specific for carrying aspartic acid to sites on the ribosomes in preparation for protein synthesis.	Aspartic Acid-Specific tRNA,Transfer RNA, Asp,tRNAAsp,tRNA(Asp),Acid-Specific tRNA, Aspartic,Asp Transfer RNA,Aspartic Acid Specific tRNA,RNA, Asp Transfer,tRNA, Aspartic Acid-Specific
D012996	Solutions	The homogeneous mixtures formed by the mixing of a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance (solute) with a liquid (the solvent), from which the dissolved substances can be recovered by physical processes. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Solution
D018360	Crystallography, X-Ray	The study of crystal structure using X-RAY DIFFRACTION techniques. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	X-Ray Crystallography,Crystallography, X Ray,Crystallography, Xray,X Ray Crystallography,Xray Crystallography,Crystallographies, X Ray,X Ray Crystallographies