DSSR-PyMOL cartoon-block schematics: PDB entry 3ov7

PDB-id

3ov7; DSSR-derived features in text and JSON formats

Class

transferase-RNA

Method

X-ray (3.0 Å)

Summary

How the cca-adding enzyme selects adenine over cytosine in position 76 of trna

Reference

Pan B, Xiong Y, Steitz TA (2010): "How the CCA-Adding Enzyme Selects Adenine over Cytosine at Position 76 of tRNA." Science, 330, 937-940. doi: 10.1126/science.1194985.

Abstract

CCA-adding enzymes [ATP(CTP):tRNA nucleotidyltransferases] add CCA onto the 3' end of transfer RNA (tRNA) precursors without using a nucleic acid template. Although the mechanism by which cytosine (C) is selected at position 75 of tRNA has been established, the mechanism by which adenine (A) is selected at position 76 remains elusive. Here, we report five cocrystal structures of the enzyme complexed with both a tRNA mimic and nucleoside triphosphates under catalytically active conditions. These structures suggest that adenosine 5'-monophosphate is incorporated onto the A76 position of the tRNA via a carboxylate-assisted, one-metal-ion mechanism with aspartate 110 functioning as a general base. The discrimination against incorporation of cytidine 5'-triphosphate (CTP) at position 76 arises from improper placement of the α phosphate of the incoming CTP, which results from the interaction of C with arginine 224 and prevents the nucleophilic attack by the 3' hydroxyl group of cytidine75.