Crystal structures of leucyl/phenylalanyl-tRNA-protein transferase and its complex with an aminoacyl-tRNA analog
Suto, K., Shimizu, Y., Watanabe, K., Ueda, T., Fukai, S., Nureki, O., Tomita, K.(2006) EMBO J 25: 5942-5950
- PubMed: 17110926 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.emboj.7601433
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2DPS, 2DPT - PubMed Abstract: 
Eubacterial leucyl/phenylalanyl-tRNA protein transferase (L/F-transferase), encoded by the aat gene, conjugates leucine or phenylalanine to the N-terminal Arg or Lys residue of proteins, using Leu-tRNA(Leu) or Phe-tRNA(Phe) as a substrate. The resulting N-terminal Leu or Phe acts as a degradation signal for the ClpS-ClpAP-mediated N-end rule protein degradation pathway. Here, we present the crystal structures of Escherichia coli L/F-transferase and its complex with an aminoacyl-tRNA analog, puromycin. The C-terminal domain of L/F-transferase consists of the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase fold, commonly observed in the acetyltransferase superfamily. The p-methoxybenzyl group of puromycin, corresponding to the side chain of Leu or Phe of Leu-tRNA(Leu) or Phe-tRNA(Phe), is accommodated in a highly hydrophobic pocket, with a shape and size suitable for hydrophobic amino-acid residues lacking a branched beta-carbon, such as leucine and phenylalanine. Structure-based mutagenesis of L/F-transferase revealed its substrate specificity. Furthermore, we present a model of the L/F-transferase complex with tRNA and substrate proteins bearing an N-terminal Arg or Lys.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Institute for Biological Resources and Functions, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan.