Specific binding of tRNAMet to 23S rRNA of Escherichia coli.

Abstract
.**GRAPHIC**. binds to 23S rRNA of E. coli, forming a complex with a melting temperature of 75.degree. C (in 0.6 M NaCl). The regions within the RNA that bind to each other were isolated and their nucleotide sequences were determined. The interacting region in .**GRAPHIC**. is 17 nucleotides long, extending from G5 in the acceptor stem to D21 (D = 5,6-dihydrouridine) in the D loop. The sequence in 23S rRNA is complementary to that sequence except for an extra Up in the middle and allowing a Gp .cntdot. D base pair. The association of these 2 sequences may play a role in initiation of protein synthesis by .**GRAPHIC**. Part of this sequence in 23S rRNA may also stabilize tRNA binding to the ribosome during elongation of nascent polypeptides.