2023
Split aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for proximity-induced stop codon suppression
Jiang H, Ambrose N, Chung C, Wang Y, Söll D, Tharp J. Split aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for proximity-induced stop codon suppression. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2219758120. PMID: 36787361, PMCID: PMC9974479, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2219758120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acyl-tRNA SynthetasesCodon, TerminatorEscherichia coliHumansLigasesProtein BiosynthesisRNA, TransferConceptsAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesCodon suppressionStop codon suppressionGene expressionOrthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesRelevant protein-protein interactionsSynthetic biology toolsSmall molecule rapamycinControl gene expressionProtein-protein interactionsLevel of transcriptionAbscisic acidDimerization domainMammalian cellsBiology toolsGene translationTranslational levelMolecular switchStop codonHuman cellsMolecular inputsUseful biotechnologySynthetasesExpressionTherapeutic applications
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 acidsUncovering translation roadblocks during the development of a synthetic tRNA
Prabhakar A, Krahn N, Zhang J, Vargas-Rodriguez O, Krupkin M, Fu Z, Acosta-Reyes FJ, Ge X, Choi J, Crnković A, Ehrenberg M, Puglisi EV, Söll D, Puglisi J. Uncovering translation roadblocks during the development of a synthetic tRNA. Nucleic Acids Research 2022, 50: 10201-10211. PMID: 35882385, PMCID: PMC9561287, DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac576.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino AcidsAmino Acyl-tRNA SynthetasesNucleotidesProtein BiosynthesisRibosomesRNA, TransferSelenocysteineConceptsOrthogonal translation systemGenetic code expansionCode expansionTertiary interactionsNon-canonical amino acidsAminoacyl-tRNA substratesDomains of lifeAminoacyl-tRNA synthetaseTranslation systemSingle nucleotide mutationsSingle-molecule fluorescenceDistinct tRNAsNon-canonical structuresSelenocysteine insertionRibosomal translationTRNARibosomesSynthetic tRNANucleotide mutationsAmino acidsSame organismP siteOrganismsTranslocationTranslationThe 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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acyl-tRNA SynthetasesAnticodonCodonEscherichia coliGenetic CodeProtein BiosynthesisRNA, TransferConceptsFour-base codonsGenetic codeTRNA mutationsAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesQuadruplet codonsSingle amino acidCodon translationTriplet codonsTRNA synthetasesSynthetic biologistsCodonTRNAAmino acidsChemical alphabetsMutationsMass spectrometrySynthetasesAnticodonToleranceSynthetic systemsBiologistsTranslationEscherichiaNascent
2018
Transfer RNA function and evolution
O’Donoghue P, Ling J, Söll D. Transfer RNA function and evolution. RNA Biology 2018, 15: 423-426. PMID: 30099966, PMCID: PMC6103721, DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2018.1478942.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2014
Exploring the Substrate Range of Wild‐Type Aminoacyl‐tRNA Synthetases
Fan C, Ho JM, Chirathivat N, Söll D, Wang Y. Exploring the Substrate Range of Wild‐Type Aminoacyl‐tRNA Synthetases. ChemBioChem 2014, 15: 1805-1809. PMID: 24890918, PMCID: PMC4133344, DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201402083.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino AcidsAmino Acyl-tRNA SynthetasesAnticodonEscherichia coliMolecular ConformationSubstrate SpecificityConceptsAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesSubstrate rangeDifferent amino acid sitesAmino acidsE. coli tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetaseE. coli aminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesAmino acid sitesCanonical amino acidsNonstandard amino acidsTyrosyl-tRNA synthetaseTryptophanyl-tRNA synthetaseAnticodon sequenceTRNA synthetasesSynthetasesSynthetaseSequenceAnticodonNSAAsTrpRSProteinAminoacylAcid
2013
Aminoacylation of tRNA 2′‐ or 3′‐hydroxyl by phosphoseryl‐ and pyrrolysyl‐tRNA synthetases
Englert M, Moses S, Hohn M, Ling J, O‧Donoghue P, Söll D. Aminoacylation of tRNA 2′‐ or 3′‐hydroxyl by phosphoseryl‐ and pyrrolysyl‐tRNA synthetases. FEBS Letters 2013, 587: 3360-3364. PMID: 24021645, PMCID: PMC3830498, DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.08.037.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2011
Rational design of an evolutionary precursor of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase
O’Donoghue P, Sheppard K, Nureki O, Söll D. Rational design of an evolutionary precursor of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2011, 108: 20485-20490. PMID: 22158897, PMCID: PMC3251134, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1117294108.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceAmino Acyl-tRNA SynthetasesBase SequenceCodonEscherichia coliEvolution, MolecularGenetic EngineeringKineticsMethanobacteriaceaeModels, MolecularMolecular ConformationMolecular Sequence DataNucleic Acid ConformationPhylogenyProtein Structure, SecondarySequence Homology, Amino AcidConceptsGlutaminyl-tRNA synthetaseAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesGenetic code engineeringAmino acidsDomains of lifeMost aminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesGlutamyl-tRNA synthetaseCanonical amino acidsBacterial GlnRSTRNA specificityTRNA pairsParticular codonsEvolutionary precursorBiochemical characterizationStem loopGlnRAdditional codonsCAA codonCodonProtein synthesisCAG codonEscherichia coliSpecific enzymesCatalytic preferenceSynthetase
2010
Mutations Disrupting Selenocysteine Formation Cause Progressive Cerebello-Cerebral Atrophy
Agamy O, Zeev B, Lev D, Marcus B, Fine D, Su D, Narkis G, Ofir R, Hoffmann C, Leshinsky-Silver E, Flusser H, Sivan S, Söll D, Lerman-Sagie T, Birk OS. Mutations Disrupting Selenocysteine Formation Cause Progressive Cerebello-Cerebral Atrophy. American Journal Of Human Genetics 2010, 87: 538-544. PMID: 20920667, PMCID: PMC2948803, DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.09.007.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2009
The Human SepSecS-tRNASec Complex Reveals the Mechanism of Selenocysteine Formation
Palioura S, Sherrer RL, Steitz TA, Söll D, Simonović M. The Human SepSecS-tRNASec Complex Reveals the Mechanism of Selenocysteine Formation. Science 2009, 325: 321-325. PMID: 19608919, PMCID: PMC2857584, DOI: 10.1126/science.1173755.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acyl-tRNA SynthetasesBase SequenceBiocatalysisCatalytic DomainCrystallography, X-RayHumansHydrogen BondingModels, MolecularMolecular Sequence DataNucleic Acid ConformationPhosphatesPhosphoserineProtein ConformationProtein MultimerizationProtein Structure, SecondaryRNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-SpecificRNA, Transfer, Amino AcylSelenocysteineConceptsTransfer RNASelenocysteine formationSelenocysteinyl-tRNA synthaseCognate transfer RNAEnzyme active siteTRNA bindingActive siteConformational changesEnzyme assaysAmino acidsFree phosphoserinePhosphoserineSepSecSFinal stepSelenocysteineBiosynthesisComplexesRNAMechanismBindsCrystal structureSynthaseBindingFormationAssays
2008
Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase–tRNAPyl structure reveals the molecular basis of orthogonality
Nozawa K, O’Donoghue P, Gundllapalli S, Araiso Y, Ishitani R, Umehara T, Söll D, Nureki O. Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase–tRNAPyl structure reveals the molecular basis of orthogonality. Nature 2008, 457: 1163-1167. PMID: 19118381, PMCID: PMC2648862, DOI: 10.1038/nature07611.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAmino acidsMolecular basisLast universal common ancestorUniversal common ancestorUAG stop codonProteinogenic amino acidsCommon ancestorSuppressor tRNAStop codonDesulfitobacterium hafnienseStandard amino acidsTRNADistinct interactionsProteinPyrrolysinePylRSSelenocysteineAncestorCodonMachineryAcidVivoPairsLife without RNase P
Randau L, Schröder I, Söll D. Life without RNase P. Nature 2008, 453: 120-123. PMID: 18451863, DOI: 10.1038/nature06833.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdenosine TriphosphateAmino Acyl-tRNA SynthetasesArchaeaCysteineMethanococcalesMethanococcusOxidation-ReductionPhosphoserineRNA, ArchaealRNA, Transfer, Amino AcylRNA, Transfer, CysConceptsCysteine biosynthesisSep-tRNAComparative genomic analysisCys-tRNA synthasePhosphoseryl-tRNA synthetaseCys-tRNACysteine auxotrophyMost organismsMethanocaldococcus jannaschiiMethanococcus maripaludisGenetic codeGenomic analysisEssential enzymeO-phosphoserineBiosynthesisRNA synthetaseOrganismsSepRSSynthetasePartial purificationCysteineSole routeArchaeaSepCysSJannaschii
2003
Non-canonical Eukaryotic Glutaminyl- and Glutamyl-tRNA Synthetases Form Mitochondrial Aminoacyl-tRNA in Trypanosoma brucei *
Rinehart J, Horn EK, Wei D, Söll D, Schneider A. Non-canonical Eukaryotic Glutaminyl- and Glutamyl-tRNA Synthetases Form Mitochondrial Aminoacyl-tRNA in Trypanosoma brucei *. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2003, 279: 1161-1166. PMID: 14563839, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m310100200.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGlutaminyl-tRNA synthetaseGlutamyl-tRNA synthetaseT. bruceiGln-tRNATrypanosoma bruceiInsect stage T. bruceiT. brucei enzymeRespective gene productsAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesGlutamyl-tRNA synthetase activitySynthetase activityTransamidation pathwayLeishmania mitochondriaBrucei enzymeMitochondrial tRNAsGlu-tRNAProtein biosynthesisAminoacylation experimentsGene productsRNA interferenceTRNABruceiMitochondriaTotal tRNAGlutaminyl
2001
Cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase is not essential for viability of the archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis
Stathopoulos C, Kim W, Li T, Anderson I, Deutsch B, Palioura S, Whitman W, Söll D. Cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase is not essential for viability of the archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2001, 98: 14292-14297. PMID: 11717392, PMCID: PMC64675, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.201540498.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCysteinyl-tRNA synthetaseMethanococcus maripaludisArchaeon Methanococcus maripaludisLateral gene transferNormal growth conditionsAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesAminoacyl-tRNA synthetaseArchaea Methanocaldococcus jannaschiiProlyl-tRNA synthetaseCysS genesCys-tRNAMethanocaldococcus jannaschiiM. maripaludisSynthetase geneIntriguing enzymeMethanothermobacter thermautotrophicusCysteinyl-tRNAKnockout strainProlyl-tRNAGene transferSynthetaseBiochemical analysisVivo translationGrowth conditionsCysRSA Single Amidotransferase Forms Asparaginyl-tRNA and Glutaminyl-tRNA in Chlamydia trachomatis *
Raczniak G, Becker H, Min B, Söll D. A Single Amidotransferase Forms Asparaginyl-tRNA and Glutaminyl-tRNA in Chlamydia trachomatis *. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2001, 276: 45862-45867. PMID: 11585842, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109494200.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acyl-tRNA SynthetasesChlamydia trachomatisElectrophoresis, Polyacrylamide GelGenes, BacterialRNA, BacterialRNA, Transfer, AsnRNA, Transfer, GlnConceptsAsn-tRNAGln-tRNAAminoacyl-tRNAOperon-like arrangementAccurate protein synthesisGlutaminyl-tRNA synthetaseGlutamyl-tRNA synthetaseAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesAsparaginyl-tRNA synthetaseAspartyl-tRNA synthetaseGat genesAsparaginyl-tRNAGenome sequenceMost bacteriaGlutaminyl-tRNAAmidotransferaseProtein synthesisSynthetasesSynthetaseGenesAmide donorEnzymeAspGluGenomeProtein 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 ResearchGenomics and the evolution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis.
Ruan B, Ahel I, Ambrogelly A, Becker H, Bunjun S, Feng L, Tumbula-Hansen D, Ibba M, Korencic D, Kobayashi H, Jacquin-Becker C, Mejlhede N, Min B, Raczniak G, Rinehart J, Stathopoulos C, Li T, Söll D. Genomics and the evolution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis. Acta Biochimica Polonica 2001, 48: 313-21. PMID: 11732603, DOI: 10.18388/abp.2001_3917.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acyl-tRNA SynthetasesEvolution, MolecularGenomicsPhylogenyProtein BiosynthesisRNA, MessengerRNA, Transfer, Amino AcylConceptsAminoacyl-tRNA synthesisAminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesTransfer RNAsAmino acidsMessenger RNAGenetic informationContemporary aminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesDirect protein synthesisNon-canonical routesEvolutionary diversityEvolutionary divergenceCys-tRNANascent polypeptidesRibosome movesAsn-tRNAGln-tRNAWhole genomeAppropriate amino acidsTRNA anticodonSubstrate specificityLys-tRNATrinucleotide codonsNext codonUnexpected levelProtein synthesisThe renaissance of aminoacyl‐tRNA synthesis
Ibba M, Söll D. The renaissance of aminoacyl‐tRNA synthesis. EMBO Reports 2001, 2: 382-387. PMID: 11375928, PMCID: PMC1083889, DOI: 10.1093/embo-reports/kve095.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino AcidsAmino Acyl-tRNA SynthetasesAnimalsArchaeaBacteriaEvolution, MolecularProtein BiosynthesisRNA, Transfer, Amino AcylConceptsAminoacyl-tRNA synthesisProtein synthesisRole of tRNAEvolutionary diversityStructural biologyMolecular biologistsUnexpected arrayMolecular biologyNew enzymeDecades of studyAmino acidsEssential processTRNABiologyComplete pictureGenomicsAdaptorBiologistsDiversityEnzymePathwayHigh degreeSynthesisNumerous milestones