Processing of transcripts of a dimeric tRNA gene in yeast uses the nuclease responsible for maturation of the 3′ termini upon 5 S and 37 S precursor rRNAs

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Abstract
The rna82 mutation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae inactivates an RNA processing activity responsible for maturation of 3′‐terminal sequences upon 5 S and 37 S ribosomal RNA precursors. This study describes a difference in the processing of transcripts of an S. cerevisiae dimeric tRNA gene (tRNAArg‐tRNAAsp) in RNA polymerase III in vitro transcription extracts prepared from rna82 and wild‐type cells. The mutant extract accumulated additional processing intermediates containing tRNAArg sequences as compared to the extract from wild‐type cells. The structure of these intermediates revealed a defect in removal of the 10 nucleotides left 3′ to the tRNAArg sequence by the RNase P cleavage immediately 5′ to tRNAAsp. This is the first demonstration of a mutational defect affecting maturation of 3′ sequences upon a eukaryotic tRNA precursor.