METHIONYL-TRANSFER RNA SYNTHETASE-INDUCED CONFORMATIONAL CHANGE OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI TRANSFER RNAFMET

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 256  (17) , 9308-9312
Abstract
RNase T2, nuclease S1 and snake venom phosphodiesterase were used as structural probes for investigation of the interaction between E. coli tRNAfMet and methionyl-tRNA synthetase, and the cleavage sites were analyzed by a rapid sequencing gel electrophoresis of 5''-32P-labeled tRNA. Both endonucleases cleaved the D-loop of synthetase-bound tRNA much more extensively than that of the free tRNA. Positions of A14, G15, A22 and G23 in the D-loop and C35 in the anticodon of the synthetase-bound tRNA were more susceptible to RNase T2. The synthetase-bound tRNA was predominantly cleaved by nuclease S1 at position of G15, G19, G20 and G23 in the D-loop and G2 in the acceptor stem. The synthetase-bound tRNA was more resistant to the 3''-exonuclease, snake venom phosphodiesterase, than was the free tRNA molecule. These results suggest conformational change of the tRNA by the synthetase binding which weakened tertiary interaction between the D-loop and T.psi.C-loop/extra-loop. Production of acid-soluble radioactivity was also examined in the limited digestion of 5''-32P-labeled tRNA or 3''-14C-labeled methionyl-tRNA. The synthetase enhanced the release of acid-soluble oligonucleotides from the 5''-end of the tRNA but suppressed that from the 3''-end of the molecule. These results are consistent with that obtained by gel electrophoresis.