Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are key players in protein synthesis. To be fully active, tRNAs undergo extensive post-transcriptional modifications, including queuosine (Q), a hypermodified 7-deaza-guanosine present in the anticodon of several tRNAs in bacteria and eukarya. Here, molecular and biochemical approaches revealed that in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, Q-containing tRNAs have a preference for the U-ending codons for asparagine, aspartate, tyrosine and histidine, analogous to what has been described in other systems. However, since a lack of tRNA genes in T. brucei mitochondria makes it essential to import a complete set from the cytoplasm, we surprisingly found that Q-modified tRNAs are preferentially imported over their unmodified counterparts. In turn, their absence from mitochondria has a pronounced effect on organellar translation and affects function. Although Q modification in T. brucei is globally important for codon selection, it is more so for mitochondrial protein synthesis. These results provide a unique example of the combined regulatory effect of codon usage and wobble modifications on protein synthesis; all driven by tRNA intracellular transport dynamics.

• MeSH
• antikodon genetika   MeSH
• buněčné jádro genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• cytoplazma genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• guanosin genetika   MeSH
• kodon genetika   MeSH
• konformace nukleové kyseliny * MeSH
• mitochondrie genetika   MeSH
• nukleosid Q genetika   MeSH
• posttranskripční úpravy RNA genetika   MeSH
• proteosyntéza genetika   MeSH
• RNA transferová genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• Trypanosoma brucei brucei genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH