title: Fluorimetric distance determination by resonance energy transfer. Ribosome-bound transfer RNA.
abstract: Using the technique of singlet-singlet (Förster-type) resonance energy transfer, we have determined five distances in the programmed ribosome, either with the P site or with both the A and the P sites occupied. Two of the distances are new and two agree with earlier measurements; the fifth showed disagreement in detail with earlier results of others, but a consistent general trend. The distances substantiate a current model for the location of ribosomally bound tRNA, except in regard of the position of the 3' end of P-site tRNA, which seems according to our results to lie too far away from the 3' terminus of the 16 S RNA to be accommodated in the model. We present new evidence for the hypothesis that anomalously charged tRNA does not bind to the cognately programmed A site in the same way as does tRNA charged with an amino acid. Occupation of the A site restricts mobility of the 3' end of tRNA in the P site.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Genetik, Berlin, Germany.
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: D004735:Energy Transfer; D005470:Fluorometry; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000032:analysis*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012343:RNA, Transfer