2023
Mistranslation of the genetic code by a new family of bacterial transfer RNAs
Schuntermann D, Fischer J, Bile J, Gaier S, Shelley B, Awawdeh A, Jahn M, Hoffman K, Westhof E, Söll D, Clarke C, Vargas-Rodriguez O. Mistranslation of the genetic code by a new family of bacterial transfer RNAs. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2023, 299: 104852. PMID: 37224963, PMCID: PMC10404621, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104852.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransfer RNAsAmino acidsBacterial transfer RNAsUnfavorable environmental conditionsProlyl-tRNA synthetaseWrong amino acidPoor substrate specificitySubstrate discriminationGrowth defectTransfer RNAGenetic codePosttranslational modificationsProtein reporterTranslation factorsEnvironmental stressFunctional proteinsSubstrate specificityThreonine codonGenetic informationDistinct isoformsPro mutationAntibiotic carbenicillinEscherichia coliNovel familyEnvironmental conditions
2022
Ancestral archaea expanded the genetic code with pyrrolysine
Guo LT, Amikura K, Jiang HK, Mukai T, Fu X, Wang YS, O’Donoghue P, Söll D, Tharp JM. Ancestral archaea expanded the genetic code with pyrrolysine. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2022, 298: 102521. PMID: 36152750, PMCID: PMC9630628, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102521.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAminoacylation efficiencyGenetic code expansionDomains of lifePyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetaseTRNA-binding domainFull-length enzymeNoncanonical amino acidsAmino acid substratesMolecular phylogenyDiverse archaeaCoevolutionary historyTRNA sequencesGenetic codeCode expansionDiscriminator basesMethanogenic archaeaMethanosarcina mazeiPylRSSubstrate spectrumTRNAArchaeaMultiple organismsLiving cellsAcid substratesAmino acidsDiversification of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activities via genomic duplication
Krahn N, Söll D, Vargas-Rodriguez O. Diversification of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activities via genomic duplication. Frontiers In Physiology 2022, 13: 983245. PMID: 36060688, PMCID: PMC9437257, DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.983245.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsGenomic duplicationSynthetase familyRecent bioinformatic analysisAminoacyl-tRNA synthetase familySynthetic biology applicationsDomains of lifeNew drug targetsAminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activityGene duplicationPhylogenetic diversityEvolutionary eventsGenetic codeBioinformatics analysisImportant bioactive moleculesAdaptive advantageBiological functionsBiological processesBiology applicationsDrug targetsDuplicationAaRSsCatalytic siteSynthetase activityProteinBioactive moleculesThe tRNA discriminator base defines the mutual orthogonality of two distinct pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNAPyl pairs in the same organism
Zhang H, Gong X, Zhao Q, Mukai T, Vargas-Rodriguez O, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Wassel P, Amikura K, Maupin-Furlow J, Ren Y, Xu X, Wolf YI, Makarova KS, Koonin EV, Shen Y, Söll D, Fu X. The tRNA discriminator base defines the mutual orthogonality of two distinct pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNAPyl pairs in the same organism. Nucleic Acids Research 2022, 50: gkac271-. PMID: 35466371, PMCID: PMC9071458, DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac271.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenetic code expansionCode expansionDistinct non-canonical amino acidsOrthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairsAminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairsPyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/Halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcaniiAdditional coding capacityDistinct noncanonical amino acidsNon-canonical amino acidsArchaeon Haloferax volcaniiDiscriminator baseAmino acidsPyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetaseNoncanonical amino acidsSite-specific incorporationMotif 2 loopSingle base changeDistinct tRNAsTRNA pairsHaloferax volcaniiUAA codonGenetic codeDiscriminator basesTRNA structureMeasuring the tolerance of the genetic code to altered codon size
DeBenedictis EA, Söll D, Esvelt KM. Measuring the tolerance of the genetic code to altered codon size. ELife 2022, 11: e76941. PMID: 35293861, PMCID: PMC9094753, DOI: 10.7554/elife.76941.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFour-base codonsGenetic codeTRNA mutationsAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesQuadruplet codonsSingle amino acidCodon translationTriplet codonsTRNA synthetasesSynthetic biologistsCodonTRNAAmino acidsChemical alphabetsMutationsMass spectrometrySynthetasesAnticodonToleranceSynthetic systemsBiologistsTranslationEscherichiaNascentKhorana, Har Gobind
Söll D, RajBhandary U. Khorana, Har Gobind. 2022 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-822563-9.00089-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGene synthesisDNA genesChemical synthesisChemical biologyGenetic codeMembrane proteinsDNA mutagenesisDNA sequencesSynthesis of DNABacterio-opsinG proteinsSuch profound effectsProton pumpMRNA synthesisGenesDNA sequencingBiological researchSynthesisBiologyPCR amplificationDNA chipChemistryNucleic acidsDNA diagnosticsProtein
2015
Overcoming Challenges in Engineering the Genetic Code
Lajoie M, Söll D, Church G. Overcoming Challenges in Engineering the Genetic Code. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2015, 428: 1004-1021. PMID: 26348789, PMCID: PMC4779434, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.09.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchInside Cover: Chemical Evolution of a Bacterial Proteome (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 34/2015)
Hoesl M, Oehm S, Durkin P, Darmon E, Peil L, Aerni H, Rappsilber J, Rinehart J, Leach D, Söll D, Budisa N. Inside Cover: Chemical Evolution of a Bacterial Proteome (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 34/2015). Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2015, 54: 9726-9726. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201506522.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2013
UGA is an additional glycine codon in uncultured SR1 bacteria from the human microbiota
Campbell JH, O’Donoghue P, Campbell AG, Schwientek P, Sczyrba A, Woyke T, Söll D, Podar M. UGA is an additional glycine codon in uncultured SR1 bacteria from the human microbiota. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2013, 110: 5540-5545. PMID: 23509275, PMCID: PMC3619370, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1303090110.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFrame TGA codonTGA codonGlycine codonHuman microbiotaSingle-cell genome sequencesSmall subunit rRNA sequencesComparative genomic analysisHorizontal gene transferUnique genetic codeGlycyl-tRNA synthetaseHuman Microbiome Project dataStrain-specific variationMost genesSuch taxaBisphosphate carboxylaseGenome sequenceGenetic codeGenomic analysisStriking diversityRRNA sequencesΒ-galactosidase activityGlycine residueStop codonCodonLacZ gene
2012
The genetic code: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow
Ling J, Söll D. The genetic code: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Resonance 2012, 17: 1136-1142. DOI: 10.1007/s12045-012-0130-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGenetic codePhysiologyYeast mitochondrial threonyl-tRNA synthetase recognizes tRNA isoacceptors by distinct mechanisms and promotes CUN codon reassignment
Ling J, Peterson KM, Simonović I, Cho C, Söll D, Simonović M. Yeast mitochondrial threonyl-tRNA synthetase recognizes tRNA isoacceptors by distinct mechanisms and promotes CUN codon reassignment. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2012, 109: 3281-3286. PMID: 22343532, PMCID: PMC3295322, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1200109109.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAeropyrumAmino Acid SequenceAnticodonCatalytic DomainCodonCrystallography, X-RayEscherichia coliEvolution, MolecularLeucineMitochondriaModels, MolecularMolecular Sequence DataProtein ConformationProtein Structure, TertiaryRNA EditingRNA, Transfer, Amino AcylSaccharomyces cerevisiaeSaccharomyces cerevisiae ProteinsSequence AlignmentSpecies SpecificityStaphylococcus aureusSubstrate SpecificityThreonineThreonine-tRNA LigaseConceptsThreonyl-tRNA synthetaseAnticodon loopAnticodon sequenceEscherichia coli ThrRSSet of tRNAsDistinct recognition mechanismsAnticodon-binding domainAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesCUN codonsDetailed structural comparisonCodon reassignmentYeast mitochondriaGenetic codeTRNA isoacceptorsSaccharomyces cerevisiaeIsoacceptor tRNAsEditing domainTRNAMST1Anticodon tripletStructural comparisonNatural tRNAAmino acidsDistinct mechanismsRecognition mechanism
2011
An unusual tRNAThr derived from tRNAHis reassigns in yeast mitochondria the CUN codons to threonine
Su D, Lieberman A, Lang BF, Simonović M, Söll D, Ling J. An unusual tRNAThr derived from tRNAHis reassigns in yeast mitochondria the CUN codons to threonine. Nucleic Acids Research 2011, 39: 4866-4874. PMID: 21321019, PMCID: PMC3113583, DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCUN codonsYeast mitochondriaGenetic codeAlloacceptor tRNA gene recruitmentComprehensive phylogenetic analysisStandard genetic codeThreonyl-tRNA synthetaseHistidyl-tRNA synthetaseGene recruitmentEvolutionary originPhylogenetic analysisRecoding eventBiochemical experimentsFirst nucleotideAnticodon loopMST1CodonFirst clear exampleYeastMitochondriaThreonineSynthetaseCandida albicansGenomeClear example
2010
Structure of an archaeal non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase: a missing link in the evolution of Gln-tRNAGln formation
Nureki O, O’Donoghue P, Watanabe N, Ohmori A, Oshikane H, Araiso Y, Sheppard K, Söll D, Ishitani R. Structure of an archaeal non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase: a missing link in the evolution of Gln-tRNAGln formation. Nucleic Acids Research 2010, 38: 7286-7297. PMID: 20601684, PMCID: PMC2978374, DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq605.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetaseGlutamyl-tRNA synthetaseND-GluRSEscherichia coli GlnRSFormation of GlnCognate tRNA moleculesGlutaminyl-tRNA synthetaseAnticodon-binding domainEvolutionary predecessorPhylogenetic analysisGenetic codeMolecular basisTRNA moleculesRecognition pocketGlnRGenetic encodingAmino acidsSpecific ligationStructural determinantsKey eventsSynthetaseGluPromiscuous recognitionGluRGln
2008
Quality control despite mistranslation caused by an ambiguous genetic code
Ruan B, Palioura S, Sabina J, Marvin-Guy L, Kochhar S, LaRossa RA, Söll D. Quality control despite mistranslation caused by an ambiguous genetic code. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2008, 105: 16502-16507. PMID: 18946032, PMCID: PMC2575449, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0809179105.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenetic codeAa-tRNAWild-type proteinAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesInactive mutant proteinsHeat shock responseE. coliMutant proteinsReporter proteinMissense suppressionFunctional proteinsCognate tRNASelective pressureAminoacyl-tRNAActive enzymeShock responseProtein synthesisNative conformationEnergetic costAmino acidsMissense mutationsProteinBiochemical evidenceCorrect pairingProtein quality
2006
RNA‐Dependent Cysteine Biosynthesis in Archaea
Yuan J, Sauerwald A, Zhu W, Major T, Roy H, Palioura S, Jahn D, Whitman W, Yates J, Ibba M, Söll D. RNA‐Dependent Cysteine Biosynthesis in Archaea. The FASEB Journal 2006, 20: a503-a504. DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a503-d.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCysteine biosynthesisSep-tRNACys-tRNA synthaseCys-tRNACysPhosphoseryl-tRNA synthetaseCysteinyl-tRNA synthetaseCys-tRNAGenetic experimentsSec tRNAMost organismsMethanocaldococcus jannaschiiGenetic codeGenomic analysisEssential enzymeMethanogenic archaeaArchaeaSimilar enzymesO-phosphoserineBiosynthesisOrganismsSynthetaseEnzymePathwaySulfur donorSole route
2005
RNA-Dependent Cysteine Biosynthesis in Archaea
Sauerwald A, Zhu W, Major TA, Roy H, Palioura S, Jahn D, Whitman WB, Yates JR, Ibba M, Söll D. RNA-Dependent Cysteine Biosynthesis in Archaea. Science 2005, 307: 1969-1972. PMID: 15790858, DOI: 10.1126/science.1108329.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCysteine biosynthesisSep-tRNAComparative genomic analysisCys-tRNA synthasePhosphoseryl-tRNA synthetaseCys-tRNACysteine auxotrophyMost organismsMethanocaldococcus jannaschiiMethanococcus maripaludisGenetic codeGenomic analysisEssential enzymeO-phosphoserineBiosynthesisRNA synthetaseOrganismsSepRSSynthetasePartial purificationCysteineSole routeArchaeaSepCysSJannaschii
2002
tRNA‐dependent amino acid discrimination by yeast seryl‐tRNA synthetase
Gruic‐Sovulj I, Landeka I, Söll D, Weygand‐Durasevic I. tRNA‐dependent amino acid discrimination by yeast seryl‐tRNA synthetase. The FEBS Journal 2002, 269: 5271-5279. PMID: 12392560, DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002.03241.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSeryl-tRNA synthetaseYeast seryl-tRNA synthetaseCognate tRNA moleculesAmino acid discriminationAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesAmino acid substratesSimilar amino acidsAmino acid serineGenetic codeEnzyme active siteTRNA moleculesActive siteYeast SerRSConformational changesAcid substratesAmino acidsSerineSynthetaseStoichiometric analysisDifferent affinitiesEnzymeAccurate translationTRNASerSynthetasesSaccharomyces
2001
Protein synthesis: Twenty three amino acids and counting
Ibba M, Stathopoulos C, Söll D. Protein synthesis: Twenty three amino acids and counting. Current Biology 2001, 11: r563-r565. PMID: 11509255, DOI: 10.1016/s0960-9822(01)00344-x.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2000
AMINOACYL-tRNA SYNTHESIS
Ibba M, Söll D. AMINOACYL-tRNA SYNTHESIS. Annual Review Of Biochemistry 2000, 69: 617-650. PMID: 10966471, DOI: 10.1146/annurev.biochem.69.1.617.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAminoacyl-tRNA synthesisAmino acidsAminoacyl-tRNA synthetaseEvolutionary facetsWhole-genome sequencingCorresponding tRNAsGenetic codeGenome sequencingAminoacyl-tRNACorresponding anticodonTRNACurrent knowledgeStructural dataRecent studiesAnticodonDetailed pictureAcidSequencingSynthetaseEditingProofreadingSynthesisTranslationDirect attachmentAminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases, the Genetic Code, and the Evolutionary Process
Woese C, Olsen G, Ibba M, Söll D. Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases, the Genetic Code, and the Evolutionary Process. Microbiology And Molecular Biology Reviews 2000, 64: 202-236. PMID: 10704480, PMCID: PMC98992, DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.64.1.202-236.2000.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesIndividual aminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesEvolutionary processesAAR geneEvolutionary relationshipsPhylogenetic treeGenetic codeUniversal phylogenetic treeDistant evolutionary pastOrganismal phylogenyOrganismal domainsCodon assignmentsTaxonomic distributionEvolutionary pastHorizontal transferEvolutionary profilesGenetic materialIndividual enzymesEvolutionary perspectiveSynthetasesGenesEnzymeBacteriaModern counterpartsTrees