Alanyl-tRNA synthetase crystal structure and design for acceptor-stem recognition

Early work on aminoacylation of alanine-specific tRNA (tRNAAla) by alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) gave rise to the concept of an early "second genetic code" imbedded in the acceptor stems of tRNAs. A single conserved and position-specific G:U base pair in the tRNA acceptor stem is the key identity determinant. Further understanding has been limited due to lack of a crystal structure of the enzyme. We determined a 2.14 Angstrom crystal structure of the 453 amino acid catalytic fragment of Aquifex aeolicus AlaRS. It contains the catalytic domain characteristic of class 11 synthetases, a helical domain with a hairpin motif critical for acceptor-stem recognition, and a C-terminal domain of a mixed (alpha/beta fold. Docking of tRNA(Ala) on AlaRS shows critical contacts with the three domains, consistent with previous mutagenesis and functional data. It also suggests conformational flexibility within the C domain, which might allow for the positional variation of the key G:U base pair seen in some tRNA Alas.