NMR-based solution structure of the Caulobacter crescentus ProXp-ala trans-editing enzyme.

ProXp-ala is a key component of the translational machinery in all three Domains of life. This enzyme helps to maintain the fidelity of proline codon translation through aminoacyl-tRNA proofreading. In the first step of tRNA aminoacylation, the cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) binds and activates an amino acid in the enzyme's synthetic active site.

Conformational and chemical selection by a -acting editing domain.

Molecular sieves ensure proper pairing of tRNAs and amino acids during aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, thereby avoiding detrimental effects of mistranslation on cell growth and viability. Mischarging errors are often corrected through the activity of specialized editing domains present in some aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases or via single-domain -editing proteins. ProXp-ala is a ubiquitous -editing enzyme that edits Ala-tRNA, the product of Ala mischarging by prolyl-tRNA synthetase, although the structural basis for discrimination between correctly charged Pro-tRNA and mischarged Ala-tRNA is unclear.

pH dependence of the stress regulator DksA.

DksA controls transcription of genes associated with diverse stress responses, such as amino acid and carbon starvation, oxidative stress, and iron starvation. DksA binds within the secondary channel of RNA polymerase, extending its long coiled-coil domain towards the active site. The cellular expression of DksA remains constant due to a negative feedback autoregulation, raising the question of whether DksA activity is directly modulated during stress.

DksA2, a zinc-independent structural analog of the transcription factor DksA.

Transcription factor DksA contains a four-Cys Zn(2 +)-finger motif thought to be responsible for structural integrity and the relative disposition of its domains. Pseudomonas aeruginosa encodes an additional DksA paralog (DksA2) that is expressed selectively under Zn(2+) limitation. Although DksA2 does not bind Zn(2+), it complements the Escherichia coli dksA deletion and has similar effects on transcription in vitro.

Interaction of the HIV-1 intasome with transportin 3 protein (TNPO3 or TRN-SR2).

Transportin 3 (TNPO3 or TRN-SR2) has been shown to be an important cellular factor for early steps of lentiviral replication. However, separate studies have implicated distinct mechanisms for TNPO3 either through its interaction with HIV-1 integrase or capsid. Here we have carried out a detailed biophysical characterization of TNPO3 and investigated its interactions with viral proteins.