Biochemical controls: tRNA actions (Introduction)

by David Turell , Saturday, December 30, 2023, 16:02 (120 days ago) @ David Turell

Everywhere:

https://www.cell.com/cell-chemical-biology/fulltext/S2451-9456(23)00438-5?_returnURL=ht...

"tRNAs are among the most abundant and essential biomolecules in cells. These spontaneously folding, extensively structured yet conformationally flexible anionic polymers literally bridge the worlds of RNAs and proteins, and serve as Rosetta stones that decipher and interpret the genetic code. Their ubiquitous presence, functional irreplaceability, and privileged access to cellular compartments and ribosomes render them prime targets for both endogenous regulation and exogenous manipulation. There is essentially no part of the tRNA that is not touched by another interaction partner, either as programmed or imposed by an external adversary. Recent progresses in genetic, biochemical, and structural analyses of the tRNA interactome produced a wealth of new knowledge into their interaction networks, regulatory functions, and molecular interfaces. In this review, I describe and illustrate the general principles of tRNA recognition by proteins and other RNAs, and discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms that deliver affinity, specificity, and functional competency." (my bold)

Comment: Definition of tRNA: "Transfer RNA (abbreviated tRNA and formerly referred to as sRNA, for soluble RNA) is an adaptor molecule composed of RNA, typically 76 to 90 nucleotides in length (in eukaryotes) that serves as the physical link between the mRNA and the amino acid sequence of proteins. Transfer RNA (tRNA) does this by carrying an amino acid to the protein-synthesizing machinery of a cell called the ribosome. Complementation of a 3-nucleotide codon in a messenger RNA (mRNA) by a 3-nucleotide anticodon of the tRNA results in protein synthesis based on the mRNA code. As such, tRNAs are a necessary component of translation, the biological synthesis of new proteins in accordance with the genetic code."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_RNA

These protein interrelations occur automatically between free-floating molecules whose forms must fit exactly into each other. Behe considers this as IC.