Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Glu-tRNA(Gln) amidotransferase: A novel heterotrimeric enzyme required for correct decoding of glutamine codons during translation

  • A. W. Curnow
  • , K. W. Hong
  • , R. Yuan
  • , S. I. Kim
  • , O. Martins
  • , W. Winkler
  • , T. M. Henkin
  • , D. Soll

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

299 Scopus citations

Abstract

The three genes, gatC, gatA, and gatB, which constitute the transcriptional unit of the Bacillus subtilis glutamyl-tRNA(Gln) amidotransferase have been cloned. Expression of this transcriptional unit results in the production of a heterotrimeric protein that has been purified to homogeneity. The enzyme furnishes a means for formation of correctly charged Gln-tRNA(Gln) through the transamidation of misacylated Glu- tRNA(Gln), functionally replacing the lack of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase activity in Gram-positive eubacteria, cyanobacteria, Archaea, and organelles. Disruption of this operon is lethal. This demonstrates that transamidation is the only pathway to Gln-tRNA(Gln) in B. subtilis and that glutamyl-tRNA(Gln) amidotransferase is a novel and essential component of the translational apparatus.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)11819-11826
Number of pages8
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume94
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Glu-tRNA(Gln) amidotransferase: A novel heterotrimeric enzyme required for correct decoding of glutamine codons during translation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this