Mamit-tRNA is a compilation of
mammalian mitochondrial tRNA genes. It contains presently
3064 tRNA gene sequences from
150 fully sequenced
genomes available on
GenBank database (NCBI). This is the follow-up of our previous investigation on a smaller set of mammals which allowed to highlight peculiar and specific structural characteristics of mammalian mitochondrial tRNAs (
Helm M. et al. RNA. 6, 1356-79 (2000)).
Mamit-tRNA, to be updated regularly, is expected to serve as basis towards the deciphering of structural features of mammalian mitochondrial tRNAs and a helpful tool in the frame of human diseases linked to point mutations in mitochondrial tRNA genes.
Sequence comparisons
Sequences are classified into 22 families according to the amino acid specificity of the different tRNAs as defined by the anticodon triplets. Each sequence is displayed linearly with color codes indicating secondary structural domains, and can be converted into printable 2D cloverleaf structures.
Multiple sequences can be selected by organism, order or superorder in any combination for compilation. The outcome appears dynamically on cloverleaf shaped secondary structures either as 'typical' or 'consensus' sequences with supplementary statistical data for each position within the tRNA. Due to large variations in size, D- and T- loops escape the analysis. However, tRNA sequences can be selected according to the size of their D- and/or T- loop and/or variable region.
Mutations in human tRNA genes
Numerous
point mutations have been reported for human (Hs) mitochondrial tRNA genes, either as polymorphisms or related to pathologies. Positions of these mutations are displayed in the corresponding cloverleaf secondary structures and are color coded according to their potential role in pathologies (
McFarland R. et al. Trends Genet 20, 591-6 (2004)).
Last update : 24/10/2007