InterPro domain: IPR033421

Rit1 modifies exclusively the initiator tRNA in position 64 using 5'-phosphoribosyl-1'-pyrophosphate as the modification donor. As the initiator tRNA participates both in the initiation and elongation of translation, the 2'-O-ribosyl phosphate modification discriminates the initiator tRNAs from the elongator tRNAs [ 1 ]. This C-terminal domain shows similarity to dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) [ 2 ].

1. Rit1, a tRNA backbone-modifying enzyme that mediates initiator and elongator tRNA discrimination. Cell 79, 535-46
2. Identification and modeling of a phosphatase-like domain in a tRNA 2'-O-ribosyl phosphate transferase Rit1p. Cell Cycle 10, 3566-70