Biochemical and crystallographic analyses of enzyme-catalysed posttranscriptional tRNA modifications (C01)

• Subject Area: Structural Biology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 325871075

tRNA modifications are posttranscriptionally installed by specific enzymes. Close to the anticodon they affect accuracy of translation by ribosomes. N6-Threonylcarbamoyladenosine is a ubiquitous modification that can undergo further cyclization as well as methylthiolation. Another sulphur-containing tRNA base is 2-thiocytidine. Since the biosynthetic pathways of both modifications are not fully understood to date, the reaction mechanisms and substrate specificities of the respective enzymes will be explored biochemically and by X-ray crystallography.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1309: Chemical Biology of Epigenetic Modifications
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Michael Groll; Dr. Eva M. Huber