Welcome to AARS Online

The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARS) are a large group of enzymes that attach amino acids to their cognate tRNA. They operate the genetic code in all living systems across all three domains of life- the bacteria, archaea, and eukaryota - plus mitochondria and chloroplasts, and there are even certain viruses that have AARS genes. The evolution of Class I and Class II AARS can be traced back earlier than the last universal common ancestor 3-4 billion years ago. AARS Online is a curated database showcasing a taxonomically diverse selection of AARS sequences and structures.
✦ Enzymes are sampled from Bacteria , Archaea , Eukaryotes , Organelles , and Viruses
✦ Contains protein structure with direct experimental support and AlphaFold models
✦ Seamlessly navigate between protein sequence and structure with a user-friendly interface
✦ Download curated multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees
✦ Start a discussion or report an issue on GitHub using the 'Discuss' link at the bottom of each page
✦ Use the evolutionary tree below to navigate to an AARS


Issues

User feedback is welcomed. If you spot an error or have any inquiries, please create an issue on GitHub or contact jordan.douglas@auckland.ac.nz.

Developed by Jordan Douglas, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

References

If you find this tool helpful for your research, please cite our preprint:

Douglas, J., Bouckaert, R., Carter, C., & Wills, P. R. (2023). Enzymic recognition of amino acids drove the evolution of primordial genetic codes.