ISSN:
0021-9541
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
All tRNA sequences so far known can be folded into a cloverleaf structure. Physical data and chemical reactions allow us to draw conclusions on secondary (cloverleaf) and tertiary structure. N-oxidation of adenosine to adenosine-1-N-oxide can be done with monoperphthalic acid in non-base-paired regions of polynucleotides and can be followed easily by changes in absorption of ultraviolet light. Thus this method can be used to determine the structure of tRNA's. A fingerprint of the N-oxidation product of tRNAyeastPhe reveals that all adenosine residues are protected except the 3′-terminal adenosine and the three adenosine residues in or adjacent to the anticodon. On this basis a conformation of tRNAyeastPhe is proposed. Similar tertiary structures can be constructed for the other tRNA's. In order to connect tertiary structure of a tRNA and recognition by its aminoacylating enzyme, the rate of aminoacylation, as a function of temperature, was measured. Neither changes in the anticodon nor specific changes at the 3′-terminal adenosine abolish aminoacylation. Single crystals of tRNAyeastPhe were obtained from aqueous solutions upon addition of various organic solvents.
Additional Material:
14 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jcp.1040740416
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