Overview of tRNA Modifications in Chloroplasts

Abstract

The chloroplast is a promising platform for biotechnological innovation due to its compact translation machinery. Nucleotide modifications within a minimal set of tRNAs modulate codon–anticodon interactions that are crucial for translation efficiency. However, a comprehensive assessment of these modifications does not presently exist in chloroplasts. Here, we synthesize all available information concerning tRNA modifications in the chloroplast and assign translation efficiency for each modified anticodon–codon pair. In addition, we perform a bioinformatics analysis that links enzymes to tRNA modifications and aminoacylation in the chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This work provides the first comprehensive analysis of codon and anticodon interactions of chloroplasts and its implication for translation efficiency.