Transfer RNA modifications and modifying enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Transfer RNAs are adaptor molecules, which decode mRNA into protein and, thereby, play a central role in gene expression. During the maturation of a primary tRNA transcript, specific subsets of the four normal nucleosides adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, and uridine are modified. The formation of a modified nucleoside can require more than one gene product and may involve several enzymatic steps. In the last few years, the identification of gene products required for formation of modified nucleosides in tRNA has dramatically increased. In this review, proteins involved in modification of cytoplasmic tRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are described, emphasizing phenotypic characteristics of modification deficient strains and genetic approaches used to determine the in vivo role of modified nucleosides/ modifying enzymes.