Relaxation of a transfer RNA specificity by removal of modified nucleotides.
The molecular recognition of specific transfer RNAs by the appropriate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase is an important step in determining the accuracy of translation of the genetic message from nucleic acids into proteins. Recent studies using variant tRNAs with specific sequence modifications have indicated particular regions that determine their identity. Here we consider whether the base modifications commonly found in tRNAs contribute to their identity. Although unmodified tRNA(Asp) is charged with aspartate as efficiently as the modified native tRNA, it is mischarged with arginine with considerably increased efficiency. Our results indicate that post-transcriptional modification of tRNAs introduces structural 'anti-determinants', restricting the efficiency with which the tRNAs are charged with inappropriate amino acids.
Perret
V
V
Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg, France.
Garcia
A
A
Grosjean
H
H
Ebel
J P
JP
Florentz
C
C
Giegé
R
R
D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D001126:Arginine-tRNA Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D001226:Aspartate-tRNA Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012345:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific / Q000378:metabolism*; D012347:RNA, Transfer, Arg; D012349:RNA, Transfer, Asp / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012345:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific; D012347:RNA, Transfer, Arg; D012349:RNA, Transfer, Asp; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D001120:Arginine; D001226:Aspartate-tRNA Ligase; D001126:Arginine-tRNA Ligase