Abstract
The CCA-adding enzyme [ATP(CTP):tRNA nucleotidyltransferase] adds CCA to the 3' ends of transfer RNAs (tRNAs), a critical step in tRNA biogenesis that generates the amino acid attachment site. We found that the CCA-adding enzyme plays a key role in tRNA quality control by selectively marking structurally unstable tRNAs and tRNA-like small RNAs for degradation. Instead of adding CCA to the 3' ends of these transcripts, CCA-adding enzymes from all three kingdoms of life add CCACCA. In addition, hypomodified mature tRNAs are subjected to CCACCA addition as part of a rapid tRNA decay pathway in vivo. We conjecture that CCACCA addition is a universal mechanism for controlling tRNA levels and preventing errors in translation.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Archaeal Proteins / metabolism
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Base Sequence
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Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
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Fungal Proteins / chemistry
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Fungal Proteins / metabolism
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Humans
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Mice
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Nucleic Acid Conformation
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Polyadenylation
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RNA 3' End Processing*
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RNA Nucleotidyltransferases / metabolism*
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RNA Stability*
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RNA, Fungal / chemistry
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RNA, Fungal / metabolism
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RNA, Transfer / chemistry
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RNA, Transfer / genetics
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RNA, Transfer / metabolism*
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RNA, Transfer, Ser / chemistry
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RNA, Transfer, Ser / metabolism
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RNA, Untranslated / chemistry
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RNA, Untranslated / genetics
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RNA, Untranslated / metabolism
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / chemistry
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
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Sulfolobus / enzymology
Substances
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Archaeal Proteins
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Escherichia coli Proteins
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Fungal Proteins
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RNA, Fungal
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RNA, Transfer, Ser
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RNA, Untranslated
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RNA, Transfer
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RNA Nucleotidyltransferases
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tRNA nucleotidyltransferase