The function of the terminal A of tRNA Phe (yeast) with respect to complex formation with the cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase has been studied using equilibrium and fast kinetic techniques. Removal of the terminal A influences the equilibrium parameters of the tRNA-synthetase interaction only slightly, the mechanism of complex formation, however, is changed significantly. The binding mechanis...

A method is described for using the cross-linking reagent 4'-(hydroxy-methyl)-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (HMT) to map base paired regions and higher-order structure within RNA molecules. Applying this method to yeast tRNAPhe, we have specifically identified cross-links within the acceptor stem between U6 X U68, in the D-stem between C11 X C25, and in the T psi-stem between U50 X C63 and U52 X C63...

The chromatographic profiles of isoaccepting tRNAs were analyzed at five time points during the 96 hr, dimethylsulfoxide induced, erythroid-like differentiation of Friend leukemia cells. Sixty-four isoaccepting species of tRNA for 16 amino acids were resolved by RPC-5 chromatography. The relative amounts of tRNAphe, tRNAile, and tRNAval species were maintained by the cells during differentiatio...

Mutations in the mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (mtaaRSs) can cause profound clinical presentations, and have manifested as diseases with very selective tissue specificity. To date most of the mtaaRS mutations could be phenotypically recognized, such that clinicians could identify the affected mtaaRS from the symptoms alone. Among the recently reported pathogenic variants are point mu...

We demonstrate a fairly general method for identification of NMR absorption lines of macromolecues extracted from microorganisms, based on nuclear Overhauser effects (NOE). Several NOE in tRNA are observable between resolved imino proton resonances and ring carbon resonances that are either C(2) protons of adenine or C(8) protons of adenine or guanine. Yeast tRNAPhe was deuterated at the purine...

Structural investigations of tRNA complexes using NMR or neutron scattering often require deuterated specific tRNAs. Those tRNAs are needed in large quantities and in highly purified and biologically active form. Fully deuterated tRNAs can be prepared from cells grown in deuterated minimal medium, but tRNA content under this conditions is low, due to regulation of tRNA biosynthesis in response ...