Plant tRNA functions beyond their major role in translation


 Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are well-known for their essential function as adapters in delivering amino acids to ribosomes and making the link between mRNA and protein according to the genetic code. Besides this central role in protein synthesis, other functions are attributed to these macromolecules or their genes in all living organisms. Here, this review focuses on these extra functions in photosynthetic organisms. For example, tRNAs are implicated in Tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, mRNA stabilization or transport, priming reverse transcription of viral RNAs, and tRNA-like structures play important roles in RNA viral genomes. Another important function of tRNAs in regulating gene expression is related to their cleavage allowing the production of small non-coding RNAs named tDRs for tRNA-derived RNAs. Here, we examine in more detail the biogenesis of tDRs and their emerging functions in plants.