Leucine—tRNA ligase explained

Leucine—tRNA ligase
Ec Number:	6.1.1.4
Cas Number:	9031-15-6
Go Code:	0004823

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

ATP + L-leucine + tRNALeu

\rightleftharpoons AMP + diphosphate + L-leucyl-tRNALeu

The 3 substrates of this enzyme are ATP, L-leucine, and tRNA(Leu), whereas its 3 products are AMP, diphosphate, and L-leucyl-tRNA(Leu).

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-leucine:tRNALeu ligase (AMP-forming). Other names in common use include leucyl-tRNA synthetase, leucyl-transfer ribonucleate synthetase, leucyl-transfer RNA synthetase, leucyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase, leucine-tRNA synthetase, and leucine translase. This enzyme participates in valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis and aminoacyl-trna biosynthesis.

Structural studies

As of late 2007, 5 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes,,,, and .

See also

• Leucyl-tRNA synthetase

References

• ALLEN EH, GLASSMAN E, SCHWEET RS . 1960 . Incorporation of amino acids into ribonucleic acid. I. The role of activating enzymes . J. Biol. Chem. . 235 . 1061 - 7 . 13792726 .
• Berg P, Bergmann FH, Ofengand EJ, Dieckmann M . 1961 . The enzymic synthesis of amino acyl derivatives of ribonucleic acid I. The mechanism of leucyl-, valyl-, isoleucyl- and methionyl ribonucleic acid formation . J. Biol. Chem. . 236 . 1726 - 1734 .
• Bergmann FH, Berg P, Dieckmann M . 1961 . The enzymic synthesis of amino acyl derivatives of ribonucleic acid II. The preparation of leucyl-, valyl-, isoleucyl- and methionyl ribonucleic acid synthetases from Escherichia coli . J. Biol. Chem. . 236 . 1735 - 1740 .