Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases from calf liver: optimized assay conditions and kinetic properties

Kinetic studies have been performed on the "family" of aminoacyl synthetases from calf liver. All assays were based on the esterification of amino acids to tRNA. Optimized reaction conditions for each synthetase are reported. Most of the synthetases show hyperbolic kinetics with respect to both amino acid and tRNA concentration, however a few show sigmoidal kinetics with respect to one substrate. Arginine, methionine and proline synthetases show sigmoidal kinetics with respect to mixed tRNA solutions and have Hill coefficients of 1.30, 1.10 and 1.20 respectively. Alanine and isoleucine synthetases show sigmoidal kinetics with respect to amino acid concentration and have Hill coefficients of 1.21 and 1.40 respectively.