Human Mitochondrial tRNA Modification and Diseases
As the pivotal energy hub of cells,human mitochondria have their own genomes and translation system to synthesize thirteen mitochondrial DNA-encoded subunits for OXPHOS(oxidative phosphorylation)com-plexes.Mt-tRNA(mitochondrial transfer ribonucleic acid)serves as an adaptor in mitochondrial protein synthesis by carrying the specific amino acid to the ribosome.Mt-tRNAs harbor 18 types of posttranscriptional modifications,which play important roles in stabilizing tRNA tertiary structure and/or mediating precise codon-anticodon interac-tions.Thus,abnormal mt-tRNA modification and modification enzymes are closely related to mitochondrial dys-functions and human diseases.This review summarizes the recent advances in the study of mt-tRNA modifications and discusses their relevance to various mitochondrial encephalomyopathies,neurological disorders and cancers.