An Archaeal Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase Missing from Genomic Analysis

Abstract
The complete genomic sequencing of Methanococcus jannaschii cannot identify the gene for the cysteine-specific member of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. However, we show here that enzyme activity is present in the cell lysate of M. jannaschii . The demonstration of this activity suggests a direct pathway for the synthesis of cysteinyl-tRNA Cys during protein synthesis.