The mechanism of the aminoacylation of transfer ribonucleic acid The kinetics and stoichiometry of the lysis of aminoacyl-tRNA

  • Hieronim Jakubowski
  • , Andrzej Pastuszyn
  • , Robert B. Loftfield

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is often stated that the aminoacylation of transfer RNA proceeds in discrete steps: {A figure is presented} If this is a complete description of the reaction, the reverse overall formation of ATP should not be more rapid than the formation of Enz · (AA ∼ AMP). We show for four different amino acid:tRNA ligases that lysis of AA-tRNA (with PPi and AMP) to ATP is faster than lysis of AA-tRNA (with AMP only) to Enz · (AA ∼ AMP). This requires that the transition state proceeds from a quaternary complex of PPi, AMP, AA-tRNA and Enz. From the law of microscopic reversibility, this requires that in the forward reaction the AA-tRNA bond be formed before PPi leaves the enzyme complex. Therefore, the forward reaction passes through the quaternary complex Enz · ATP · AA · tRNA. (In view of recent evidence of the specific requirement of two cations, the complex is accurately described as senary.).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)568-576
Number of pages9
JournalBBA Section Nucleic Acids And Protein Synthesis
Volume520
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 24 1978
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The mechanism of the aminoacylation of transfer ribonucleic acid The kinetics and stoichiometry of the lysis of aminoacyl-tRNA'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this