The T-domain of cytosolic tRNAVal, an essential determinant for mitochondrial import.
Import of tRNAs into plant mitochondria appears to be highly specific. We recently showed that the anticodon and the D-domain sequences are essential determinants for tRNAVal import into tobacco cell mitochondria. To determine the minimal set of elements required to direct import of a cytosol-specific tRNA species, tobacco cells were transformed with an Arabidopsis thaliana intron-containing tRNAMet-e gene carrying the D-domain and the anticodon of a valine tRNA. Although well expressed and processed into tobacco cells, this mutated tRNA was shown to remain in the cytosol. Furthermore, a mutant tRNAVal carrying the T-domain of the tRNAMet-e, although still efficiently recognized by the valyl-tRNA synthetase, is not imported into mitochondria. Altogether these results suggest that mutations affecting the core of a tRNA molecule also alter its import ability into plant mitochondria.
Laforest
Marie-Josée
MJ
Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UPR 2357 CNRS, Université Louis Pasteur, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
Delage
Ludovic
L
Maréchal-Drouard
Laurence
L
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D007700:Kinetics; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D022821:RNA Splice Sites / Q000235:genetics; D034443:RNA Transport; D012346:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012358:RNA, Transfer, Met / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D046249:Transfer RNA Aminoacylation
D022821:RNA Splice Sites; D012346:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl; D012358:RNA, Transfer, Met