Work

Stereochemistry of methly transfer catalyzed by tRNA (m5U54)-methyltransferase—evidence for a single displacement mechanism

Year: 1991

Type: article

Abstract: tRNA (m5U54)-methyltransferase (RUMT) catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) to the 5-carbon of uridine 54 of tRNA. We have determined the steric course of methyl transfer, using (methyl-R)- and (methyl-S)-[methyl-2H1,3H]-AdoMet as the chiral methyl donors, and tRNA lacking the 5-methyl group at position 54 as the acceptor. Following methyl transfer, ribothymidine was isolated and degraded to chiral acetic acid for configurational analysis. Transfer of the chiral methyl group to U54 proceeded with inversion of configuration of the chiral methyl group, suggesting that RUMT catalyzed methyl transfer occurs by a single SN2 displacement mechanism.

Source: Nucleic Acids Research

DOI: 10.1093/nar/19.23.6465

Authors: James T. Kealey, Sungsook Lee, Heinz G. Floss, Daniel V. Santi

Institutions: University of California, San Francisco, University of Washington

Language: English

Topic: RNA modifications and cancer

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: G3095879605, STEREOCHEMISTRY OF ENZYME REACTIONS, G631645126