Regulation of translation dynamic and neoplastic conversion by tRNA and their pieces

Abstract

Research on tRNA (tRNA) has gone a long way since the existence of this essential adaptor of the genetic code was first hypothesized five decades ago. with the new and fascinating discovering of connections between tRNAs and cellular path- ways beyond genetic translation, the field of tRNA research has reached a new era. Here, we review some aspects of the emerging variety of tasks performed by full-length tRNAs as well as their fragments generated by specific nuclease cleav- age. Topics of special focus include the effect of differential expression of tRNAs in healthy tissues as well as their frequent deregulation observed in cancer cells. we also discuss the cen- tral role played by tRNAMet in cell metabolism, proliferation, and response to oxidative stress. Finally we review evidences suggesting that tRNAs are critical sources of short RNAs regu- lating an ever growing variety of cellular processes including translation initiation, control of genomic retroviral sequences, or RNA interference. Introduction