Borohydride Reduction of Phenylalanine Transfer Ribonucleic Acid

Treatment of purified phenylalanine transfer RNA with sodium borohydride for 3½ hours caused a complete loss of aminoacyl-accepting activity. Similarly treated valine tRNA and formylatable methionine tRNA lose only 20% of their activities. Base analysis shows that most of the 3 H incorporation into...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of biological chemistry Vol. 244; no. 10; pp. 2806 - 2808
Main Authors Shugart, L, Stulberg, M P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 25.05.1969
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Summary:Treatment of purified phenylalanine transfer RNA with sodium borohydride for 3½ hours caused a complete loss of aminoacyl-accepting activity. Similarly treated valine tRNA and formylatable methionine tRNA lose only 20% of their activities. Base analysis shows that most of the 3 H incorporation into the phenylalanine tRNA from [ 3 H]NaBH 4 occurs in the 5,6-dihydrouridine and 4-thiouridine moieties. Since two 5,6-dihydrouridines and one 4-thiouridine occur in the loop proximal to the 5' terminus of ( Escherichia coli ) phenylalanine tRNA, we conclude that this area is essential for enzyme recognition.
ISSN:0021-9258
1083-351X
DOI:10.1016/S0021-9258(18)83466-4