Intracellular condition of Escherichia coli transfer RNA.

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Abstract
The terminal adenosyl 3[image]- (or 2[image] -) hydroxyl of a significant fraction of E. coli transfer RNA molecules is esterified in vivo to substances other than their homologous free amino acids. Among these substances are N-formylmethlonine, possibly N-formylglycine, a form of glutamic acid that could be pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, short oligopeptides, and other theoretically possible amino acid derivatives. Most of these substances cannot, however, represent nascent peptide chains, since the fraction of tRNA molecules to which they are esterified greatly exceeds that which could be expected to be simultaneously engaged in protein synthesis.