Dihydrouridine Synthase 1 Like Protein (DUS1L)

DUS1L belongs to the dus family. Dus1 subfamily. Catalyzes the synthesis of dihydrouridine, a modified base found in the D-loop of most tRNAs. Members of this family catalyse the reduction of the 5,6-double bond of a uridine residue on tRNA. Dihydrouridine modification of tRNA is widely observed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and also in some archae. Most dihydrouridines are found in the D loop of t-RNAs.

The role of dihydrouridine in tRNA is currently unknown, but may increase conformational flexibility of the tRNA. It is likely that different family members have different substrate specificities, which may overlap. Dus 1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae acts on pre-tRNA-Phe, while Dus 2 acts on pre-tRNA-Tyr and pre-tRNA-Leu.