SFB 1309 Research Areas
Area C: Mechanisms and Tools
Project C01 – Functional and structural analyses of enzyme-catalysed posttranscriptional tRNA modifications
Modifications close to the anticodon of tRNAs, such as (cyclic) methylthio-threonylcarbamoyladenosine, 2-thiocytidine and 2-thiouridine, impact the accuracy of translation by ribosomes. Although these modifications are well-known, their biosynthesis is still not understood. Based on our work during the first and second funding period, we will dissect the enzymatic formation of t6A derivatives and the requirement of Fe-S cluster proteins for 2-thio modifications. Our project is expected to provide insights into the reaction mechanisms and substrate specificities of the respective enzymes from a structural and biochemical point of view.
