In enzymology, a valine–tRNA ligase () is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
ATP + -valine + tRNA AMP + diphosphate + -valyl-tRNA
The 3 substrates of this enzyme are ATP, -valine, and tRNA, whereas its 3 products are AMP, diphosphate, and -valyl-tRNA. In humans, this enzyme is encoded by the genes VARS1 and VARS2.
This enzyme belongs to the family of ligases, to be specific those forming carbon-oxygen bonds in aminoacyl-tRNA and related compounds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is -valine:tRNA ligase (AMP-forming). Other names in common use include valyl-tRNA synthetase, valyl-transfer ribonucleate synthetase, valyl-transfer RNA synthetase, valyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase, valine transfer ribonucleate ligase, and valine translase. This enzyme participates in valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis.
Structural studies
As of late 2007, 5 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes , , , , and .
See also VARS
References