CURT1,CAAD-containing aaRSs, thylakoid curvature and gene translation

• CURT1 proteins induce membrane curvature at grana margins in Arabidopsis.
• CURT1 homologs exist in plants and cyanobacteria.
• CAAD domain mediates localization of cyanobacterial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases to thylakoids.
• CAAD and CURT1 share a common evolutionary origin.
• Similar features of CAAD and CURT1 may mediate protein sorting to thylakoids.

CURT1 proteins induce membrane curvature to grana margins in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) thylakoids. A domain sharing sequence and structural features with CURT1 is found in some cyanobacterial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) that show an unusual localization to the thylakoid membranes. Evolutionary scenarios and functional implications are discussed in this article.