title: Electrostatic potential of macromolecules measured by pKa shift of a fluorophore. 2. Transfer RNA.
abstract: The procedures developed earlier (Friedrich and Woolley, preceding paper in this journal) for probing electrostatic potential with the fluorescein label were applied to transfer RNA. By using tRNA species that contain chemically reactive bases we were able to label these bases with fluorescein derivatives and thus to 'map' the electrostatic potential around the molecule. Both the electrostatic potential and the fluorescence emission anisotropy data that were obtained at the same time could be understood in terms of the well-known, paradigmatic crystal structure of tRNA(Phe). However, within the distribution of the various tRNA species, tRNA(Met)f appeared to occupy an extreme position, which suggests a relation between the conformation in solution and the initiation function of this molecule. Comparison with theoretical predictions by others of the electrostatic potential map of tRNA showed agreement in respect of trends, but the values of the potentials measured were orders of magnitude lower than predicted. This we attribute primarily to solvation.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Wittmann, Max-Planck-Institut, Berlin.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Woolley
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Steinhäuser
mesh_terms: D004563:Electrochemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008274:Magnesium; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012345:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012345:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific; D008274:Magnesium