Abstract
Analysis of a series of mutants of an Escherichia coli alanine transfer RNA shows that substitution of a single G-U base pair in the acceptor helix eliminates aminoacylation with alanine in vivo and in vitro. Introduction of that base pair into the analogous position of a cysteine and a phenylalanine transfer RNA confers upon each the ability to be aminoacylated with alanine. Thus, as little as a single base pair can direct an amino acid to a specific transfer RNA.
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Hou, YM., Schimmel, P. A simple structural feature is a major determinant of the identity of a transfer RNA. Nature 333, 140–145 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333140a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/333140a0
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