Alanine—tRNA ligase explained

Alanine—tRNA ligase
Ec Number:	6.1.1.7
Cas Number:	9031-71-4
Go Code:	0004813

In enzymology, an alanine—tRNA ligase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

ATP + L-alanine + tRNAAla

\rightleftharpoons AMP + diphosphate + L-alanyl-tRNAAla

The 3 substrates of this enzyme are ATP, L-alanine, and tRNA(Ala), whereas its 3 products are AMP, diphosphate, and L-alanyl-tRNA(Ala).

This enzyme belongs to the family of ligases, to be specific those forming carbon-oxygen bonds in aminoacyl-tRNA and related compounds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is L-alanine:tRNAAla ligase (AMP-forming). Other names in common use include alanyl-tRNA synthetase, alanyl-transfer ribonucleate synthetase, alanyl-transfer RNA synthetase, alanyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase, alanine-transfer RNA ligase, alanine transfer RNA synthetase, alanine tRNA synthetase, alanine translase, alanyl-transfer ribonucleate synthase, AlaRS, and Ala-tRNA synthetase. This enzyme participates in alanine and aspartate metabolism and aminoacyl-trna biosynthesis.

See also

• Sticky mouse - mutation in the gene

Structural studies

As of late 2007, 7 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes,,,,,, and .

References

• HOLLEY RW, GOLDSTEIN J . 1959 . An alanine-dependent, ribonuclease-inhibited conversion of adenosine 5'-phosphate to adenosine triphosphate. II. Reconstruction of the system from purified components . J. Biol. Chem. . 234 . 1765 - 8 . 13672960 . 7 .
• Webster GC . 1961 . Isolation of an alanine-activating enzyme from pig liver . Biochim. Biophys. Acta . 49 . 141 - 152 . 10.1016/0006-3002(61)90877-0 . 13783653 .