synthetase has evolved to recognize the unusually long variable loop and diverse tertiary structure elements present in the various tRNA-Ser species26,27. Recent studies in Trypanosoma brucei have also uncovered an unusual mechanism by which TRM140 interacts with the ADAT2/3 deaminase complex to form m3C at position 32 as a pre-requisite for subsequent deamination by the ADAT2/3 enzyme to form 3-methyluridine28. Collectively, these studies highlight the complex circuitry of modifications in the anticodon loop (reviewed in refs. 29,30).
