title: Escherichia coli mutants with defects in the biosynthesis of 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thio-uridine or 1-methylguanosine in their tRNA.
abstract: Two tRNA methyltransferase mutants, isolated as described in the accompanying paper (G.R. Björk and K. Kjellin-Stråby, J. Bacteriol. 133:499-207, 1978), are biochemicaaly and genetically characterized. tRNA from mutant IB13 lacks 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thio-uridine in vivo due to a permanently nonfunctional methyltransferase. Thus tRNA from this mutant is a specific substrate for the corresponding tRNA methyltransferase in vitro. In spite of this defect in tRNA, such a mutant is viable. Mutant IB11 is conditionally defective in the biosynthesis of 1-methylguanosine in tRNA due to a temperature-sensitive tRNA (1-methyl-guanosine) methyltransferase. In mutant cells grown at a high temperature, the level of 1-methylguanosine in bulk tRNA is 20% of that of the wild type, demonstrating that in this mutant an 80% deficiency of 1-methylguanosine in tRNA is not lethal. Genetically these two distinct lesions, trmC2, causing 5=methylaminomethyl-2-thio-uridine deficiency, and trmD1, giving a temperature-sensitive tRNA (1-methylguanosine)methyltransferase, are both located between 50 and 61 min on the Escherichia coli chromosome.
mesh_terms: D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D006151:Guanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009154:Mutation; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013891:Thiouridine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D012359:tRNA Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D006151:Guanosine; D013891:Thiouridine; D012343:RNA, Transfer; D012359:tRNA Methyltransferases