Codon and amino-acid specificities of a transfer RNA are both converted by a single post-transcriptional modification

T Muramatsu; K Nishikawa; F Nemoto; Y Kuchino; S Nishimura; T Miyazawa; S Yokoyama

doi:10.1038/336179a0

Codon and amino-acid specificities of a transfer RNA are both converted by a single post-transcriptional modification

Nature. 1988 Nov 10;336(6195):179-81. doi: 10.1038/336179a0.

Authors

T Muramatsu¹, K Nishikawa, F Nemoto, Y Kuchino, S Nishimura, T Miyazawa, S Yokoyama

Affiliation

¹ Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo, Japan.

PMID: 3054566
DOI: 10.1038/336179a0

Abstract

An Escherichia coli isoleucine transfer RNA specific for the codon AUA (tRNA(2Ile) or tRNA(minorIle] has a novel modified nucleoside, lysidine in the first position of the anticodon (position 34), which is essential for the specific recognition of the codon AUA. We isolated the gene for tRNA(2Ile) (ileX) and found that the anticodon is CAT, which is characteristic of the methionine tRNA gene. Replacement of L(34) of tRNA(2Ile) molecule enzymatically with unmodified C(34) resulted in a marked reduction of the isoleucine-accepting activity and, surprisingly, in the appearance of methionine-accepting activity. Thus, both the codon and amino-acid specificity of this tRNA are converted by a single post-transcriptional modification of the first position of the anticodon during tRNA maturation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anticodon
Base Sequence
Codon*
Escherichia coli / genetics*
Molecular Sequence Data
RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional*
RNA, Messenger*
RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific / genetics*
RNA, Transfer, Ile / genetics

Substances

Anticodon
Codon
RNA, Messenger
RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific
RNA, Transfer, Ile