tRNAs are transcribed as precursor molecules that are then shortened, have a short sequence added, and may then undergo modifications of certain nucleotides to generate a different amino acid specificity. Here, tRNAIle2 lysidine synthetase (TilS) — a bacterial enzyme that carries out a nucleotide modification — is shown to specifically recognize and modify tRNAIle2 in its precursor form, thereby avoiding potential translation errors.
- Kotaro Nakanishi
- Luc Bonnefond
- Osamu Nureki
