Mechanism of molecular interactions for tRNA^Val recognition by valyl-tRNA synthetase

(A) Interactions between ValRS and the tRNA^Val anticodon arm (stereoview). Each domain of ValRS is colored as in Figure 1. The trace of the C1′ atoms of tRNA^Val is shown as a yellow tube. The bases of tRNA^Val are shown as sticks, where the carbon atoms are yellow. The tRNA-interacting amino acid residues of ValRS are shown as sticks, where the carbon atoms are green. A35 and C36, which are the major identity elements of tRNA^Val, are recognized by the α-helix bundle domain. (B) Interactions between IleRS and the tRNA^Ile anticodon arm (stereoview). The representation is as in Figure 3A. G34 is recognized by the C-terminal wobble-base-binding domain. (C) σ_a-weighted F_o-F_c omit map around A35 and C36 of tRNA^Val, contoured at the 5.0σ level (stereoview). A35, C36, and the surrounding amino acid residues were omitted. The atomic model of the ValRS•tRNA^Val•Val-AMS complex is shown as a ball-and-stick representation.