The minimal tRNA: unique structure of Ascaris suum mitochondrial tRNA(Ser)(UCU) having a short T arm and lacking the entire D arm.
The tertiary structure of Ascaris suum mitochondrial tRNA(Ser)(UCU) was examined by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis using its transcript, since tRNA(Ser)(UCU), lacking the D arm and possessing a truncated T arm, is the shortest of all the known tRNAs. Most basepairs in the proposed secondary structure of tRNA(Ser)(UCU) were shown to exist, but the connector region comprising the truncated D loop and the extra loop was flexible. This flexibility, would enable adjustment of the mutual distance between the 3'-terminus and the anticodon consistent with that of usual tRNAs. Thus, tRNA(Ser)UCU appears to function in a similar way to that of usual tRNAs in the ribosome.
Ohtsuki
Takashi
T
Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8656, Tokyo, Japan.
Kawai
Gota
G
Watanabe
Kimitsuna
K
D000818:Animals; D017165:Ascaris suum / Q000235:genetics*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry*; D012362:RNA, Transfer, Ser / Q000737:chemistry*
D018510:RNA, Helminth; D012362:RNA, Transfer, Ser