QTRT1 Human

QTRT1 catalyzes the exchange of guanine with queuine in the tRNA molecule. The reaction can be summarized as follows:

$$[tRNA]-guanine + queuine \rightleftharpoons [tRNA]-queuine + guanine$$

This reaction is essential for the proper functioning of tRNAs during protein synthesis, as the presence of queuine enhances the accuracy and efficiency of translation .

The queuosine modification is critical for the proper decoding of genetic information. It has been shown to influence codon-anticodon interactions, thereby affecting the fidelity of protein synthesis. In humans, the queuosine modification is dependent on the gut microbiome, as queuine is a product of microbial metabolism. The enzyme QTRT1, encoded by the QTRT1 gene, facilitates the incorporation of queuine into tRNA .

QTRT1 belongs to the family of glycosyltransferases, specifically the pentosyltransferases. Structural studies have revealed that this enzyme has a complex architecture that allows it to recognize and modify its tRNA substrates. As of late 2007, multiple structures of this enzyme class have been solved, providing insights into its catalytic mechanism .

Mutations in the QTRT1 gene have been associated with various diseases, including complement component 9 deficiency and spastic paraplegia 26, autosomal recessive . Understanding the function and structure of QTRT1 is therefore important for developing potential therapeutic interventions for these conditions.

Recombinant QTRT1 is used in research to study the role of queuosine modification in tRNA function and its impact on cellular processes. It is also utilized in biochemical assays to investigate the enzyme’s activity and its interaction with tRNA substrates.