Formation of a catalytically active complex between tRNAAsp and aspartyl-tRNA synthetase from yeast in high concentrations of ammonium sulphate

The interactions of yeast tRNAAsp with cognate aspartyl-tRNA synthetase have been studied in high concentrations of either sodium chloride or ammonium sulphate by fluorescence titration and small-angle neutron scattering. In solutions containing more than 1M NaCl no complex is formed and enzymatic activity is abolished. In strong contrast, however, the physical measurements showed the formation of a two-to-one tRNA-enzyme complex, with high affinity, in 1.6 M (NH4)2SO4. Aminoacylation assays under the same salt conditions showed the enzymatic fixation of aspartic acid to tRNAAsp to occur at an appreciable rate. The present study emphasizes that the effects of salts on protein-nucleic acid interactions do not depend only on ionic strength but also on the nature of the salt. This study has allowed a rational approach to the crystallisation of a functional tRNAAsp-aspartyl-tRNA synthetase complex (Giegé, Lorber, Ebel, Thierry and Moras (1980) C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, série D, 291, 393-396).

Affinity labelling of yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase with a 3'-oxidised tRNAPhe. Isolation and sequence of the labelled peptide

Yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase was specifically labelled with a 3'-oxidised tRNAPhe. Stoichiometric inactivation was achieved with the incorporation of 2 mol oxidised tRNA Phe/mol enzyme which corresponds exactly to the stoichiometry of tRNA binding. The labelled peptide has been isolated using a quick chromatographic procedure which can be applied to any covalent complex formed between a tRNA and an aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. The isolated peptide (18 amino acids) was found to encompass the unique cysteine sequence of the smaller beta subunit of the enzyme.

Detection of ligand-induced conformational changes in phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase of Escherichia coli K10 by laser light scattering

The diffusion constant of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase has been measured by laser light scattering under conditions of complex formation with Mg2+, L-phenylalanine, MgATP, tRNAPhe, modified tRNAPhe, tRNAPhe (yeast), and noncognate tRNA. The diffusion constant (pH 7.5, 20 degrees C) of the free enzyme is (2.85 +/- 0.005) x 10(-7) cm2 s-1, of the enzyme . Mg2+ complex (2.40 +/- 0.05) x 10(-7) cm2 s-1 and of the enzyme . Mg2+ . tRNAPhe complex (2.95 +/- 0.06) x 10(-7) cm2 s-1. The effect of tRNAPhe is only seen when the enzyme is saturated with Mg2+. The smaller substrates exhibit no effect besides a small increase of the value of the diffusion constant under conditions where the enzyme-phenylalanyladenylate is synthesized. Of the noncognate tRNATyr and tRNAIle, the latter is able to associate with the enzyme, causing the value of the diffusion constant to increase. tRNAPhe (yeast) and tRNAhvPhe (photo-cross-linked tRNAPhe) exhibit similar effects. The observed variation of the diffusion constant is attributed to conformational changes of the enzyme. The opposite effects of Mg2+ and tRNAPhe are interpreted as an expansion and recontraction, respectively, of the enzyme molecule. In several cases, the effects were used to follow a titration of the enzyme with a ligand. Dissociation constants were calculated from the resulting titration curves, yielding values which are in agreement with those obtained by other techniques. It is established by comparison that of the two possible binding sites for each Mg2+ and tRNAPhe the diffusion constant reflects occupation of only a single class of sites.

Reduction of DL-selenocystine and isolation of L-seleoncysteine

Cystine, selenocytsine, and several analogs were reduced by dithiothreitol (DTT), beta-mercaptoethanol (ME) and sodium borohydride (NaBH4). DTT was the most effective; DTT to cystine ratios from 10 to 80 were equally effective. With selenocysteine, however, absorption was considerably reduced at all ratios. Selenocysteine was identified as the reduction product by reaction with Gaitonde's reagent, comparison of absorption spectra, paper chromatograhy, utilization by cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase fro Paracoccus denitrificans and Vigna radiata, changes in solubility after DTT treatment, and comparison of infrared spectra. During the ATP-PPi exchange assay, DTT and ME convert cysteine and selenocysteine derivatives to cysteine and selenocysteine which serve as substrates for cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase.

The effect of tRNA and tryptophanyl adenylate on limited proteolysis of beef pancreas tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase

Limited proteolysis of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase was used to detect changes in the enzyme molecule in the presence of substrates. Trypsinolysis of each of the two identical subunits occurs in succession from the N-terminus as follows: 60 leads to 51 leads to 40 leads to 24 kilodaltons. The transition 51 leads to 40 is hindered in tryptophanyl adenylate.enzyme complex. Yeast tRNATrp accelerates the first steps of hydrolysis and decelerates the transition 40 leads to 24. Once tRNATrp is added to the synthetase.adenylate complex, the protective effect of the adenylate disappears. The same effects are found also in the presence of tRNATrp oxidized with NaI04 and tRNATrp lacking the 3'-terminal adenosine. Oxidized tRNATrp (but not tRNATrp without the 3'-A) accelerates tryptophan-dependent hydrolysis of ATP catalyzed by the enzyme. A scheme is proposed for the interaction of yeast tRNATrp with beef pancreas tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase involving the association of tRNA with a positively charged site(s) of the enzyme and the changes in the conformation of enzyme manifesting itself in unfolding of the acidic N-terminal fragment of the polypeptide chain and in the exposure of the adenylate.

Nucleotide sequence of starfish initiator tRNA

The nucleotide sequence of starfish ovary initiator tRNA was determined to be pA-G-C-A-G-A-G-U-m1G-m2G-C-G-C-A-G-U-G-G-A-A-G-C-G-U-G-C-U-G-G-G-C-C-C-A-U-t6A-A-C-C-C-A-G-A-G-m7G-D-m5C-C-G-A-G-G-A-psi-C-G-m1A-A-A-C-C-U-C-G-C-U-C-U-G-C-U-A-C-C-AOH. The sequence was determined by a combination of the two different post-labeling techniques. Two-dimensional cellulose thin-layer chromatography was adopted for analysis of 5'-terminal nucleotides of tRNA fragments produced by formamide treatment. The nucleotide sequence of starfish initiator tRNA is very similar to that of mammalian cytoplasmic initiator tRNAs, but has seven different nucleotide residues and two modifications: residue 55 is psi instead of U, and residue 26 is unmodified G instead of m2G.

The nucleotide sequence of a UGA suppressor serine tRNA from Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The UGA suppressor tRNA produced by Schizosaccharomyces pombe strain sup3-e was purified to homogeneity. It can be aminoacylated with a serine by a crude aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase preparation from S. pombe cells. By combining post-labeling fingerprinting and gel sequencing methods the nucleotide sequence of this tRNA was determined to be: pG-U-C-A-C-U-A-U-G-U-C-ac4C-G-A-G-D-G-G-D-D-A-A-G-G-A-m2G2-psi-U-A-G-A-N-U-U-C-A-i6A-A-psi-C-U-A-A-U-G-G-G-C-U-U-U-G-C-C-C-G-m5C-G-G-C-A-G-G-T-psi-C-A-m1A-A-U-C-C-U-G-C-U-G-G-U-G-A-C-G-C-C-A OH. The anticodon sequence u ca is complementary to the UGA codon.

Ultracentrifugation studies of yeast valyl-tRNA synthetase and of its interaction with tRNAVal

Yeast valyl-tRNA synthetase and its complexes with yeast tRNAVal were investigated by means of analytical ultracentrifugation. A molecular weight of 125 700 +/- 1500 and a sedimentation coefficient (SO 20, w) of 6.3 +/- 0.3 were found for the native enzyme. When the enzyme (3--60 muM) was mixed with its cognate tRNA, several types of complex were observed, depending on the relative amounts of the two macromolecules. In the presence of equimolecular amounts of tRNA and enzyme, a complex formed by the association of one of each molecule was observed with a sedimentation coefficient of about 7.3 S. However, for tRNA/enzyme stoichiometries lower than one, beside the 1 : 1 complex, a complex of higher molecular weight was observed, with a sedimentation coefficient of about 10.0 S which fits with the association of two valyl-tRNA synthetase molecules with one tRNA molecule. This 2 : 1 complex was predominant from tRNA/enzyme stoichiometries lower than 0.3. It dissociated into the 1 : 1 complex upon addition of monovalent salts or MgCl2, suggesting the electrostatic nature of the interaction in this association. All these association and dissociation phenomena were detected over a large range of pH (6.0--7.5) and in various buffers.

[Differences in the thermostability of aminoacyl-mRNA-synthetases from intact and denervated rabbit muscles]

The stability of alanyl-tRNA synthetase and valyl-tRNA synthetase from the intact and denervated for 30 days rabbit skeletal muscles towards the inactivating effect of heat (42 degrees for 10 min) has been studied. The activity of the enzymes was measured in the supernatant fraction obtained by centrifugation of muscle homogenates at 105, 000 g for 1 h. The stability of both alanyl- and valyl-tRNA synthetases from the denervated m. soleus and m. gastrocnemius was shown to be considerably decreased as compared with the enzymes from the intact muscles.