InterPro domain: IPR036621

tRNA synthetases, or tRNA ligases are involved in protein synthesis. This domain is found in histidyl, glycyl, threonyl and prolyl tRNA synthetases [ 1 ]. It is probably the anticodon binding domain [ 2 ].

Structurally, the anticodon-binding domain has three layers (alpha/beta/alpha) containing a mixed beta-sheet of five strands, where strand 4 is antiparallel to the rest.

1. Evolution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases--analysis of unique domain architectures and phylogenetic trees reveals a complex history of horizontal gene transfer events. Genome Res. 9, 689-710
2. Crystal structure analysis of the activation of histidine by Thermus thermophilus histidyl-tRNA synthetase. Biochemistry 36, 3084-94