Research article summary (published 4 Aug 1996):

Translocation events in the evolution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.

Full Abstract

We have characterized hisS, the gene encoding the histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS) from the tetraodontoid fish Fugu rubripes. The hisS gene is about 3.5 kbp long and contains 13 exons and 12 introns of 172 bp, on average. The Fugu hisS gene encodes a putative protein of 519 amino acids with the three motifs identified as signatures of class 2 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. A model for the shifting of intron 8 between Fugu and hamster is proposed based on the successive appearance of a cryptic splicing site followed by an insertion mutation that created a new acceptor site. In addition, sequence comparisons suggest that the hisS gene has undergone a translocation through the first intron. As a result, the Fugu HisRS has an N-terminal sequence markedly different from that in the human and hamster enzymes. We propose that similar events have been responsible for variations at the N-terminal end of other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Our analysis suggests that this involves exchanges through introns of two exons encoding an ancestral 32-amino acid motif.

Author information

Author/s: Brenner, S (S); Corrochano, L M (LM);

Affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, United Kingdom.

Grants: (Agency:Wellcome Trust)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1996-Aug; vol 93 (issue 16) : pp 8485-9

Dates: Created 1996/09/12; Completed 1996/09/12; Revised 2009/09/29;

PMID: 8710896, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 9/29/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Amino Acid Sequence Animals Base Sequence Cricetinae - genetics DNA Primers - chemistry DNA, Complementary - genetics Drosophila melanogaster - genetics Evolution Exons

Fishes, Poisonous - genetics Genes Histidine-tRNA Ligase - genetics Humans Introns Molecular Sequence Data Sequence Alignment Sequence Homology, Amino Acid Translocation, Genetic

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: DNA Primers (0) ; DNA, Complementary (0) ; Histidine-tRNA Ligase (EC 6.1.1.21)

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