Multi-faceted nature of the tRNA isopentenyltransferase

Abstract

Transfer RNA isopentenylation an adenine 37 position (A37) is a universal modification known in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. A set of highly homologous enzymes catalyse a series of reactions, leading to tRNA modifications, aimed to increase adaptation to environmental condition through the control of translation efficiency and reading frame maintenance. Transfer RNA-isopentenylation-related (TI-related) functions are well studied in bacteria, mitochondria of yeast and human, but completely unexplored in plants. Transfer RNA-isopentenylation-unrelated (TI-unrelated) functions participate in adaptation to environmental stresses via the regulation of sterol metabolism, gene silencing/suppression and amyloid fibrils formation. TI-unrelated functions are mostly studied in yeast. Finally, the degradation of A37-modified tRNA releases a set of bioactive compounds known as cis-cytokinins. Although all organisms are able to produce cis-cytokinins, its physiological role is still a matter of debates. For several species of bacteria and fungi, cis-cytokinins are known to play a crucial role in pathogenesis. In mammalian and human models cis-cytokinins have tumour-suppressing and anti-inflammation effects. This review aims to summarise current knowledge of the TI-related and TI-unrelated functions and main bioactive by-products of isopentenylated tRNA degradation.