Transfer RNA modi¢cation: in£uence on translational frameshifting and metabolism

Abstract Transfer RNA modification improves the rate of aa-tRNA selection at the A-site and the fitness in the P-site and thereby prevents frameshifting according to a new model how frameshifting occurs [Qian et al. (1998) Mol. Cell 1, 471^482]. Evidence that the presence of various modified nucleosides in tRNA also influences central metabolism, thiamine metabolism, and bacterial virulence is reviewed