Hypermethylation and higher stability of a plant (Eleusin coracana) tRNA

Total tRNA isolated from four-day-old ragi (Eleusin coracana) seedlings has been shown to be highly methylated. Each tRNA molecule on average contains two 2′-O-ribose methylated nucleosides. The high molar yields of 1-methyladenosine (1.6%) indicate that nearly a third of all the tRNA molecules contains more than one residue of 1-methyladenosine. Thermal denaturation studies with total tRNA show that the hypermethylated ragi tRNA melts slower that the yeast tRNA which is less methylated but otherwise has similar base composition. Ragi tRNA is also less susceptible to ribonucleases A, T₂ and T₂.