Queuine is a hypermodified nucleobase found in the first position of the anticodon of tRNAs specific for Asn, Asp, His, and Tyr in most eukaryotes and prokaryotes. It is a crucial component for healthy cellular function in animals, yet it is exclusively produced by bacteria, making it a putative vitamin. The nucleoside of queuine is queuosine, which is not found in archaea. Instead, archaea contain a related 7-deazaguanine derivative called archaeosine in a different tRNA position.
Queuine plays a vital role in ensuring rapid and accurate recognition of corresponding mRNAs’ codons. In its absence, translation at Q-decoded codons slows down, potentially leading to improper protein folding. In animal experiments, the total absence of queuine in the diet is not lethal if tyrosine is present, but withdrawal of tyrosine causes rapid deterioration and death, suggesting queuine depletion impairs phenylalanine hydroxylase activity.
Research indicates that queuine deficiency may impair the recycling of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a cofactor for aromatic amino acid hydroxylase enzymes, leading to a deficit of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. This has implications for human diseases linked to neurotransmitter deficits, making queuine deficiency a potential area of interest in neuropsychiatric research.
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Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queuine
https://www.medchemexpress.com/queuine.html
https://www.medkoo.com/products/34666
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/queuine
