A human aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase as a regulator of angiogenesis.

Article Details

Citation

Wakasugi K, Slike BM, Hood J, Otani A, Ewalt KL, Friedlander M, Cheresh DA, Schimmel P

A human aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase as a regulator of angiogenesis.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Jan 8;99(1):173-7. Epub 2002 Jan 2.

PubMed ID
11773626 [ View in PubMed
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Abstract

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyze the first step of protein synthesis. It was shown recently that human tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) can be split into two fragments having distinct cytokine activities, thereby linking protein synthesis to cytokine signaling pathways. Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TrpRS) is a close homologue of TyrRS. A natural fragment, herein designated as mini TrpRS, was shown by others to be produced by alternative splicing. Production of this fragment is reported to be stimulated by IFN-gamma, a cytokine that also stimulates production of angiostatic factors. Mini TrpRS is shown here to be angiostatic in a mammalian cell culture system, the chicken embryo, and two independent angiogenesis assays in the mouse. The full-length enzyme is inactive in the same assays. Thus, protein synthesis may be linked to the regulation of angiogenesis by a natural fragment of TrpRS.

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Polypeptides
NameUniProt ID
Tryptophan--tRNA ligase, cytoplasmicP23381Details