title: Codon reading properties of an unmodified transfer RNA.
abstract: We have previously shown that the Mycoplasma mycoides glycine tRNA (anticodon UCC) effectively reads the codons GGU and GGC in violation of the classic codon reading rules. We have attempted to elucidate what structural elements in this tRNA molecule confer this translational property and in the course of this investigation T7 RNA polymerase transcription of the corresponding gene was used to produce a tRNA devoid of modified nucleosides. Using an in vitro translation system the ability of this tRNA to read the 4 glycine codons (GGU, GGC, and GGG) was tested and it was shown to be as efficient as its normal, fully modified counterpart in the reading of all four codons. This result demonstrates that a tRNA devoid of modified nucleosides is able to efficiently sustain protein synthesis in vitro and, furthermore, that the normal modification pattern of the Mycoplasma glycine tRNA is not essential for the ability of this tRNA to read the glycine codons GGU and GGC effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Claesson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Samuelsson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lustig
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Borén
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002213:Capsid / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D006032:Glycine-tRNA Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009176:Mycoplasma mycoides / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012353:RNA, Transfer, Gly / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D012353:RNA, Transfer, Gly; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D006032:Glycine-tRNA Ligase