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An aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (abbreviated aaRs) is an enzyme that catalyzes the binding of a specific amino acid to a tRNA to form an aminoacyl-tRNA. The synthetase hydrolyzes ATP to bind the appropriate amino acid to the 3' hydroxyl of the tRNA molecule. It also mediates a proofreading reaction to ensure high fidelity of tRNA charging; if the tRNA is found to be improperly charged, the amino acid-tRNA bond is hydrolyzed.
Reaction:
- amino acid + ATP → aminoacyl-AMP + PPi
- aminoacyl-AMP + tRNA → aminoacyl-tRNA + AMP
Classes
There are two classes of aminoacyl tRNA synthetase:
- Class I has two common homologous peptide sequence motifs. It aminoacylates at the 2'-OH.
- Class II has three common homologous peptide sequence motifs. It aminoacylates at the 3'-OH.
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