Insights into the mechanistic details of protein synthesis could inform efforts to manipulate the genetic code

The recipe for any given protein is written out as a series of 'codons', each of which encodes a particular amino acid. These amino acids are delivered via transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules, which feature an 'anticodon' element that recognizes a particular codon. For this system to function properly, every tRNA must be linked to the correct amino acid—a process that is mediated by a family of enzymes called aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. A research team led by Shigeyuki Yokoyama from the RIKEN Structural Biology Laboratory and Paul Schimmel of The Scripps Research Institute in the United States has now learned how one such enzyme achieves such selective coupling.

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