How evolution shapes enzyme selectivity – lessons from aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases and other amino acid utilizing enzymes

Aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases (AARSs) charge tRNA with their cognate amino acids. Many other enzymes use amino acids as substrates, yet discrimination against noncognate amino acids that threaten the accuracy of protein translation is a hallmark of AARSs. Comparing AARSs to these other enzymes allowed us to recognize patterns in molecular recognition and strategies used by evolution for exercising selectivity. Overall, AARSs are 2–3 orders of magnitude more selective than most other amino acid utilizing enzymes. AARSs also reveal the physicochemical limits of molecular discrimination. For example, amino acids smaller by a single methyl moiety present a discrimination ceiling of ~200, while larger ones can be discriminated by up to 105‐fold. In contrast, substrates larger by a hydroxyl group challenge AARS selectivity, due to promiscuous H‐bonding with polar active site groups. This ‘hydroxyl paradox’ is resolved by editing. Indeed, when the physicochemical discrimination limits are reached, post‐transfer editing – hydrolysis of tRNAs charged with noncognate amino acids, evolved. The editing site often selectively recognizes the edited noncognate substrate using the very same feature that the synthetic site could not efficiently discriminate against. Finally, the comparison to other enzymes also reveals that the selectivity of AARSs is an explicitly evolved trait, showing some clear examples of how selection acted not only to optimize catalytic efficiency with the target substrate, but also to abolish activity with noncognate threat substrates (‘negative selection’). Amino acids comprise the substrates of many enzymes including aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases (AARSs). Discrimination against noncognate substrates whose uptake is damaging is a hallmark of enzymes and of AARS especially. Comparing AARSs to other amino acids utilizing enzymes reveals patterns in molecular recognition and evolutionary strategies for achieving selectivity, including how AARSs evolved not only to optimize activity with their target substrate but also to abolish activity with noncognate threat substrates.