Abstract
The structure of the complex formed in solution between yeast tRNAPhe and E. coli tRNA2Glu was studied by small-angle X-ray scattering. The complex has a radius of gyration of 4.0 nm and an electron-pair distance distribution that is incompatible with a model composed to 2 tRNA species joined at their complementary anticodons and exhibiting the L shape seen in the crystal. Instead a model in which the 2 tRNA species, still bound via the anticodons, assume a conformation with the acceptor arms folded toward the anticodon arms agrees with the observed scattering curves.