The modified base isopentenyladenosine and its derivatives in tRNA

Base 37 in tRNA, 3'-adjacent to the anticodon, is occupied by a purine base that is thought to stabilize codon recognition by stacking interactions on the first Watson-Crick base pair. If the first codon position forms an A.U or U.A base pair, the purine is likely further modified in all domains of life. One of the first base modifications found in tRNA is N-6-isopentenyl adenosine (i(6)A) present in a fraction of tRNAs in bacteria and eukaryotes, which can be further modified to 2-methyl-thio-N-6-isopentenyladenosine (ms(2)i(6)A) in a subset of tRNAs. Homologous tRNA isopentenyl transferase enzymes have been identified in bacteria (MiaA), yeast (Mod5, Tit1), roundworm (GRO-1), and mammals (TRIT1). In eukaryotes, isopentenylation of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNAs is mediated by products of the same gene. Accordingly, a patient with homozygous mutations in TRIT1 has mitochondrial disease. The role of i(6)A in a subset of tRNAs in gene expression has been linked with translational fidelity, speed of translation, skewed gene expression, and non-sense suppression. This review will not cover the action of i(6)A as a cytokinin in plants or the potential function of Mod5 as a prion in yeast.