The nucleotide sequence of a methionine tRNA which functions in protein elongation in mouse myeloma cells

A human DNA segment encompassing leucine and methionine tRNA pseudogenes localized on chromosome 6

A human genomic clone, designated LHtlm8, that strongly hybridized to a mammalian leucine tRNA(IAG) probe, was found to encompass a pair of tRNA pseudogenes that are transcribed in a homologous cell extract. A leucine tRNA(AAG) pseudogene (TRLP1) is 2.1-kb upstream and of opposite polarity to a methionine elongator tRNA(CAU) pseudogene (TRMEP1). TRLP1 has three nucleotide variations (97% identity) from its cognate leucine tRNA(IAG), while TRMEP1 has a 78% identity with its cognate tRNA. Similar to a number of other eukaryotic tRNA pseudogenes, presumptive precursor tRNA transcripts are generated from the two pseudogenes in vitro, but possibly due to their aberrant and unstable secondary and tertiary structures, no detectable mature tRNA products are observed. The two tRNA pseudogenes are encompassed within a 9.6-kb EcoRI fragment that has been assigned to the chromosomal locus, 6pter-q13, by Southern blot hybridization of human-rodent somatic cell hybrid DNAs with probes derived from the cloned tRNA pseudogenes and flanking sequences. A 4.4-kb EcoRI fragment also harbored in clone LHtlm8 was mapped to human chromosome 11, suggesting that the two EcoRI fragments were inadvertantly ligated together during construction of the genomic library.

Stable tRNA precursors in HeLa cells

Two tRNA precursors were isolated from 32P-labeled or unlabeled HeLa cells by two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and were sequenced. These were the precursors of tRNAMet and tRNALeu, and both contained four extra nucleotides including 5'-triphosphates at their 5'-end and nine extra nucleotides including oligo U at their 3'-end. These RNAs are the first naturally occurring tRNA precursors from higher eukaryotes whose sequences have been determined. In these molecules, several modified nucleosides such as m2G, t6A and ac4C in mature tRNAs were undermodified. Two additional hydrogen bonds were formed in the clover leaf structures of these tRNA precursors. These extra hydrogen bonds may be responsible for the stabilities of these tRNA precursors.

Polynucleotide replication coupled to protein synthesis: a possible mechanism for the origin of life

A mechanism is suggested for the replication under primitive conditions of long polynucleotides by the sequential incorporation of sequences related to those of modern transfer RNAs. It is proposed that replication of such molecules became established as the result of a replicative advantage arising from the concomitant linkage together of amino acids to form polypeptides. Initially these polypeptides may have been of random sequence. Selection of primitive tRNAs in which the amino acid and anticodon stem sequences were rotationally symmetrical could have led to specific, anticodon-directed aminoacylation and fixation of the genetic code along the lines suggested by Hopfield. (Hopfield, 1978). The primitive replication-coupled system would then have been able to synthesize specific proteins containing one amino acid residue for each primitive tRNA incorporated during replication. The end result of this line of evolution is postulated to have been a nucleoprotein structure resembling the ribosome. The primitive system would then have been able to give rise directly to triplet-coded protein synthesis. Some recent RNA sequence data are discussed which are consistent with derivation of modern protein synthesis from the primitive replication-coupled mechanism.

The nucleotide sequence of spinach chloroplast methionine elongator tRNA

The nucleotide sequence of spinach chloroplast methionine elongator tRNA (sp. chl. tRNAm Met) has been determined. This tRNA is considerably more homologous to E. coli tRNAm Met (67% homology) than to the three known eukaryotic tRNAm Met (50-55% homology). Sp. chl. tRNAm Met, like the eight other chloroplast tRNAs sequenced, contains a methylated GG sequence in the dihydrouridine loop and lacks unusual structural features which have been found in several mitochondrial tRNAs.

The efficiency of methionine incorporation from isoaccepting species of tRNAMet into rabbit globin in an homologous reticulocyte lysate system

Rabbit globin alpha and beta chains were labeled with [3H]leucine, and with [35S] -methionine from reticulocyte tRNAMet isoacceptors using a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free synthesis system. [35S]Methionine from the three tRNAMet species isolated by RPC-5 chromatography was incorporated into internal positions of both alpha and beta globin. The initiator tRNA, tRNAIMet, exhibited very low efficiency for incorporating methionine internally, while tRNAIIMet was four times more efficient than tRNAIIIMet. Amino acid analysis of the tryptic peptides of the labeled globins revealed that all three isoacceptors incorporated methionine into the normal methionine peptides. Similar studies with Escherichia coli [35S]Met-tRNAfMet showed a 3-fold increase over the reticulocyte initiator tRNA in its capacity to incorporate methionine into the internal positions of rabbit globin.

Specific cleavage of tRNA by nuclease S1

Nuclease S1 specifically hydrolizes tRNAs in their anticodon loops, forming new 5' phosphate and 3' OH ends. Some single-stranded regions are not cut by nuclease S1. The strong preference of nuclease S1 for the anticodon region can be used for rapid identification of an anticodon-containing oligonucleotide and subsequent identification of the probable amino acid specificity of tRNA.

The primary structure of the major cytoplasmic valine tRNA of mouse myeloma cells

This paper describes the derivation of the primary structure of the major valine tRNA in the cytoplasm of mouse myeloma cells. Approximately 75% of the nucleotide sequence of this tRNA is also shared by the tRNA1-Val of yeast, this homology serving as a further indication of the extreme conservation of the structures of the tRNAs of different eukaryotic organisms. A novel feature of mouse myeloma tRNA1-Val is its loop IV sequence: -U-PSI-C-G-M1A-A-A-. This particular loop IV sequence has not previously been found in a tRNA structure. In addition, tRNA1-Val possesses some unusual nucleoside modifications. 5-Methyluridine (T) was not found to occur within loop IV of this tRNA, although this minor nucleoside is also absent from certain other mammalian tRNAs. Only one other tRNA, mammalian tRNAf-Met, has been found to possess 2-methylguanosine (m2G) in the position between the (b) and (c) stems of the cloverleaf. Numerous tRNAs have m2-2G in this location, and it would appear that the second methylation of this guanosine is characteristically absent from certain mammalian tRNA species.