InterPro domain: IPR044135

Met-tRNA-FMT transfers a formyl group from N-10 formyltetrahydrofolate to the amino terminal end of a methionyl-aminoacyl-tRNA acyl moiety, yielding formyl-Met-tRNA. Formyl-Met-tRNA plays an essential role in protein translation initiation by forming a complex with IF2. The formyl group plays a dual role in the initiator identity of N-formylmethionyl-tRNA by promoting its recognition by IF2 and by impairing its binding to EFTU-GTP. The N-terminal domain contains a Rossmann fold and it is the catalytic domain of the enzyme [ 1 , 2 ].

This entry represents the C-terminal domain of methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase (Met-tRNA-FMT). This domain has been shown to be involved in the tRNA binding [ 3 ].

1. Crystal structure of methionyl-tRNAfMet transformylase complexed with the initiator formyl-methionyl-tRNAfMet. EMBO J. 17, 6819-26
2. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Escherichia coli methionyl-tRNAMet(f) formyltransferase complexed with formyl-methionyl-tRNAMet(f). Acta Crystallogr. D Biol. Crystallogr. 55, 332-4