Recollection of how we came across the protein modification with amino acids by Aminoacyl tRNA-protein transferase

Abstract

Protein arginylation has been discovered in 1963 as a soluble activity in cell extracts that mediates addition of amino acids to proteins. This discovery was nearly accidental, but due to the persistence of the research team, it has been followed through and led to the emergence of a new fi eld of research. This chapter describes the original discovery of arginylation and the fi rst methods used to demonstrate the existence of this important biological process.