Sulfuration of uridine 34 in the anticodon of tRNAs is conserved in the three domains of life, guaranteeing fidelity of protein translation. In eubacteria, it is catalyzed by MnmA-type enzymes, which were previously concluded not to depend on an iron–sulfur [Fe–S] cluster. However, we report here spectroscopic and iron/sulfur analysis, as well as in vitro catalytic assays and site-directed mutagenesis studies unambiguously showing that MnmA from Escherichia coli can bind a [4Fe–4S] cluster, which is essential for sulfuration of U34-tRNA. We propose that the cluster serves to bind and activate hydrosulfide for nucleophilic attack on the adenylated nucleoside. Intriguingly, we found that E. coli cells retain s2U34 biosynthesis in the ΔiscUA ΔsufABCDSE strain, lacking functional ISC and SUF [Fe–S] cluster assembly machineries, thus suggesting an original and yet undescribed way of maturation of MnmA. Moreover, we report genetic analysis showing the importance of MnmA for sustaining oxidative stress.

The synthesis of the protected form of 2‐methylthio‐N6‐threonylcarbamoyl adenosine (ms2t6A) was developed starting from adenosine or guanosine by using the optimized carbamate method and, for the first time, an isocyanate route. The hypermodified nucleoside was subsequently transformed into the protected ms2t6A‐phosphoramidite monomer and used in a large‐scale synthesis of the precursor 17nt ms2t6A‐oligonucleotide (the anticodon stem and loop fragment of tRNALys from T. brucei). Finally, stereochemically secure ms2t6A→ms2ct6A cyclization at the oligonucleotide level efficiently afforded a tRNA fragment bearing the ms2ct6A unit. The applied post‐synthetic approach provides two sequentially homologous ms2t6A‐ and ms2ct6A‐oligonucleotides that are suitable for further comparative structure–activity relationship studies.

C5-substituted pyrimidine nucleosides are an important class of molecules that have practical use as biological probes and pharmaceuticals. Herein we report an operationally simple protocol for C5-functionalization of uridine and...