title: Codon reading patterns in Drosophila melanogaster mitochondria based on their tRNA sequences: a unique wobble rule in animal mitochondria.
abstract: Mitochondrial (mt) tRNA(Trp), tRNA(Ile), tRNA(Met), tRNA(Ser)GCU, tRNA(Asn)and tRNA(Lys)were purified from Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) and their nucleotide sequences were determined. tRNA(Lys)corresponding to both AAA and AAG lysine codons was found to contain the anticodon CUU, C34 at the wobble position being unmodified. tRNA(Met)corresponding to both AUA and AUG methionine codons was found to contain 5-formylcytidine (f(5)C) at the wobble position, although the extent of modification is partial. These results suggest that both C and f(5)C as the wobble bases at the anticodon first position (position 34) can recognize A at the codon third position (position 3) in the fruit fly mt translation system. tRNA(Ser)GCU corresponding to AGU, AGC and AGA serine codons was found to contain unmodified G at the anticodon wobble position, suggesting the utilization of an unconventional G34-A3 base pair during translation. When these tRNA anticodon sequences are compared with those of other animal counterparts, it is concluded that either unmodified C or G at the wobble position can recognize A at the codon third position and that modification from A to t(6)A at position 37, 3'-adjacent to the anticodon, seems to be important for tRNA possessing C34 to recognize A3 in the mRNA in the fruit fly mt translation system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishiwa
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Crain
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McCloskey
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000926:Anticodon / Q000235:genetics; D020029:Base Pairing / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D005815:Genetic Code; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D012345:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016914:Ribonuclease H / Q000378:metabolism; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
chemical_list: D000926:Anticodon; D003062:Codon; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D012345:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific; D012313:RNA; D016914:Ribonuclease H