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Mitochondrial tRNA editing

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Mitochondrial Function and Biogenesis

Part of the book series: Topics in Current Genetics ((TCG,volume 8))

Abstract

RNA editing describes the posttranscriptional alteration of an RNA sequence that is not achieved by processing or polyadenylation. This phenomenon is observed in mRNA, rRNA, as well as tRNA transcripts, where it leads to the restoration of functional molecules or changes the identity of the respective tRNA. While mRNA editing is found in several eukaryotic cell compartments (cytoplasm and organelles), tRNA editing events are almost exclusively restricted to organelles. Like mRNA editing, these reactions are not achieved by a unique enzymatic mechanism, but come in all flavors. Nucleotides are incorporated at both 5’- and 3’-ends of tRNAs, and are inserted or converted into other bases at internal sites. In all cases, these nucleotide incorporations and substitutions are a prerequisite for functional tRNA molecules in order to participate in organellar gene expression and therefore essential for the viability of eukaryotic cells. This review focuses on tRNA editing events in mitochondria and describes the different reaction types discovered so far.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

    Jens Schuster & Mario Mörl

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  1. Jens Schuster
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  2. Mario Mörl
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© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg

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Schuster, J., Mörl, M. (2004). Mitochondrial tRNA editing. In: Mitochondrial Function and Biogenesis. Topics in Current Genetics, vol 8. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/b95713

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/b95713

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-21489-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-40895-6

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