tRNA as an active chemical scaffold for diverse chemical transformations

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Abstract
During protein synthesis, tRNA serves as the intermediary between cognate amino acids and their corresponding RNA trinucleotide codons. Aminoacyl‐tRNA is also a biosynthetic precursor and amino acid donor for other macromolecules. AA‐tRNAs allow transformations of acidic amino acids into their amide‐containing counterparts, and seryl‐tRNASer donates serine for antibiotic synthesis. Aminoacyl‐tRNA is also used to cross‐link peptidoglycan, to lysinylate the lipid bilayer, and to allow proteolytic turnover via the N‐end rule. These alternative functions may signal the use of RNA in early evolution as both a biological scaffold and a catalyst to achieve a wide variety of chemical transformations.