title: Identification of bases in 16S rRNA essential for tRNA binding at the 30S ribosomal P site.
abstract: Previous studies suggest that the mechanism of action of the ribosome in translation involves crucial transfer RNA (tRNA)-ribosomal RNA (rRNA) interactions. Here, a selection scheme was developed to identify bases in 16S rRNA that are essential for tRNA binding to the P site of the small (30S) ribosomal subunit. Modification of the N-1 and N-2 positions of 2-methylguanine 966 and of the N-7 position of guanine 1401 interfered with messenger RNA (mRNA)-dependent binding of tRNA to the P site. Modification of the same positions as well as of the N-1 and N-2 positions of guanine 926 interfered with mRNA-independent binding of tRNA at high magnesium ion concentration. These results suggest that these three bases are involved in intermolecular contacts between ribosomes and tRNA.
authors.affiliation: Sinsheimer Laboratories, University of California, Santa Cruz 95064.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: von Ahsen
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Noller
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000494:pharmacology; D001482:Base Composition; D001665:Binding Sites; D002074:Butanones; D003028:CME-Carbodiimide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D003062:Codon; D006147:Guanine / Q000737:chemistry; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012356:RNA, Transfer, Leu / Q000378:metabolism*; D012360:RNA, Transfer, Phe / Q000378:metabolism*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D002074:Butanones; D003062:Codon; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012356:RNA, Transfer, Leu; D012360:RNA, Transfer, Phe; D013440:Sulfides; C060331:1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl)carbodiimide; D003028:CME-Carbodiimide; D006147:Guanine; C005135:kethoxal; C004784:dimethyl sulfide