The histidine tRNA genes of yeast

Yeast has at least seven nuclear histidine tRNA genes although there is a single tRNAHis. We have sequenced three of the histidine tRNA genes. The genes have identical coding sequences and the DNA anti-codon sequence GTG corresponds to the GUG anti-codon in tRNAHis. None of the three yeast histidine tRNA genes has an intervening sequence. Two of the three genes contain repeated DNA elements in the region adjacent to the 5' end of the histidine tRNA gene. One of the elements, sigma, is 18 base pairs (bp) from the 5' end of each of these genes, sigma elements are highly conserved and flanked by 5-bp repeats. The other element, delta, is at variable distances from the tRNA gene; one is 439 bp from a histidine tRNA gene and the other is 52 bp from a histidine tRNA gene. These solo delta elements are quite divergent when compared with delta s associated with transposon yeast elements and are not flanked by 5-bp repeats.     

Nucleotide sequences of yeast genes for tRNA(2), tRNA(2) and tRNA(1): homology blocks occur in the vicinity of different tRNA genes

Three members of a collection of pBR322-yeast DNA recombinant plasmids containing yeast tRNA genes have been analyzed and sequenced. Each plasmid carries a single tRNA gene: pY44, tRNA^Ser₂; pY41, tRNA^Arg₂; pY7, tRNA^Val₁. All three genes are intronless and terminate in a cluster of Ts in the non-coding strand. The sequence information here and previously determined sequences allow an extensive comparison of the regions flanking several yeast tRNA genes. This analysis has revealed novel features in tRNA gene arrangement. Blocks of homology in the flanking regions were found between the tRNA genes of an isoacceptor family but, more interestingly, also between genes coding for tRNAs of different amino-acid specificities. Particularly, three examples are discussed in which sequence elements in the neighborhood of different tRNA genes have been conserved to a high degree and over long distances.     

A phase relationship associates tRNA structural gene sequences with nucleosome cores

DNA (760 bp) isolated from nucleosome tetramers of staphylococcal nuclease-digested chicken embryo chromatin was highly enriched for tRNA genes and subsequently cloned in E. coli chi 1776. The location of genes coding for chicken embryo tRNALys, tRNAPhe and tRNAiMet within the cloned nucleosome tetramer DNA was determined using restriction endonucleases for which single cleavage sites could be predicted from the respective tRNA base sequence. All our tRNA genes reside nonrandomly at four locations on nucleosome tetramer DNA. The spacing between the tRNA gene locations is approximately 190 bp, similar to the DNA repeat length of chicken embryo chromatin. The four tRNA gene locations were also defined in noncloned nucleosome tetramer DNA highly enriched for tRNA genes. The majority of genes coding for tRNALys, tRNAPhe and tRNAiMet, respectively, are located in equal proportion 40-45, 230, 420 and 610 bp distant from the 5' end of the tRNA-identical strand. Thus the tRNA structural gene sequences all appear to begin about 20 bp "inside" the nucleosome core. As observed with nucleosomal DNA not enriched for tRNA genes, the phase relationship between tRNA genes and nucleosome location is maintained over a distance of 4-6 subsequent nucleosomes. A cloned molecule of nucleosomal DNA containing both a tRNALys gene and a tRNAiMet gene in the same polarity reveals that a phase adjustment might be necessary for the nucleosomes between these two tRNA genes in chicken embryo chromatin.     

Aspartate and asparagine tRNA genes in wheat mitochondrial DNA: a cautionary note on the isolation of tRNA genes from plants.

We have identified genes encoding a "native" tRNA(Asp) (trnD-GTC) and a "chloroplast-like" tRNA(Asn) (trnN-GTT) on opposite strands and 633 bp apart within a sequenced 1640 bp RsaI restriction fragment of wheat mtDNA. The trnD gene has been found previously at a different location in wheat mtDNA (P.B.M. Joyce et al. (1988) Piant Mol. Biol. 11, 833-843); the duplicate copies of this gene are identical within the coding and immediate flanking regions (9 bp downstream and at least 68 bp upstream), after which obvious sequence similarity abruptly disappears. The trnN gene is identical to its homolog in maize ctDNA; continuation of sequence similarity beyond the coding region suggests that this gene originated as promiscuous ctDNA that is now part of the wheat mitochondrial genome. In the course of this work, we have encountered some unexpected similarities between tRNA gene regions from wheat mitochondria and other sources. Detailed analysis of these similarities leads us to suggest that trnN genes reportedly from petunia nuclear DNA (N. Bawnik et al. (1983) Nucleic Acids Res. 11, 1117-1122) and lupine mtDNA (B. Karpińska and H. Augustyniak (1988) Nucleic Acids Res. 16, 6239) are, in fact, from petunia mtDNA and lupine ctDNA, respectively, whereas a putative wheat nuclear tRNA(Ser) (trnS-TGA) gene (Z. Szwekowska-Kulińska et al. (1989) Gene 77, 163-167) is actually from wheat mtDNA. In these instances, it seems probable that the DNA samples used for cloning contained trace amounts of DNA from another sub-cellular compartment, leading to the inadvertent selection of spurious clones.     

Extensive microheterogeneity of serine tRNA genes from Drosophila melanogaster

The nucleotide sequences of nine genes corresponding to tRNA(Ser)4 or tRNA(Ser)7 of Drosophila melanogaster were determined. Eight of the genes compose the major tRNA(Ser)4,7 cluster at 12DE on the X chromosome, while the other is from 23E on the left arm of chromosome 2. Among the eight X-linked genes, five different, interrelated, classes of sequence were found. Four of the eight genes correspond to tRNA(Ser)4 and tRNA(Ser)7 (which are 96% homologous), two appear to result from single crossovers between tRNA(Ser)4 and tRNA(Ser)7 genes, one is an apparent double crossover product, and the last differs from a tRNA(Ser)4 gene by a single C to T transition at position 50. The single autosomal gene corresponds to tRNA(Ser)7. Comparison of a pair of genes corresponding to tRNA(Ser)4 from D. melanogaster and Drosophila simulans showed that, while gene flanking sequences may diverge considerably by accumulation of point changes, gene sequences are maintained intact. Our data indicate that recombination occurs between non-allelic tRNA(Ser) genes, and suggest that at least some recombinational events may be intergenic conversions.     

The nucleotide sequence of Bacillus subtilis tRNA genes

Clones carring Bacillus subtilis tRNA genes were isolated from a lambda 816 library. A recombinant phage lambda 816-BS83 which was hybridized effectively with unfractionated tRNA probes contained a 3-kb fragment. By a Southern's blot analysis, it was found that tRNA genes were located in Eco RI-Hinc II region of this fragment. Sequence determination revealed the presence of a cluster of four tRNA genes in this region. The gene organization was as follows: tDNALys-9bp-tDNAGlu-81bp-tDNAAsp-30bp-tDNAPhe. The RNA sequences expected from tDNALys and tDNAPhe were identical with the reported RNA sequences. Two tRNA genes, tDNALys and tDNAAsp encoded the CCA sequence of 3'-terminal region, but the other two, tDNAGlu and tDNAPhe did not. A promoter-like sequence which corresponds to the sigma 55-recognition site was found in a region about 100bp upstream from tDNALys.     

Using iodinated single-stranded M13 probes to facilitate rapid DNA sequence analysis--nucleotide sequence of a mouse lysine tRNA gene.

From a recombinant lambda phage, we have determined a 387 bp sequence containing a mouse lysine tRNA gene. The putative lys tRNA (anticodon UUU) differs from rabbit liver lys tRNA at five positions. The flanking regions of the mouse gene are not generally homologous to published human and Drosophila lys tRNA genes. However, the mouse gene contains a 14 bp region comprising 13 A-T base pairs, 30-44 bp from the 5' end of the coding region. Cognate A-T rich regions are present in human and Drosophila genes. The coding region is flanked by two 11 bp direct repeats, similar to those associated with alu family sequences. The sequence was determined by a "walking" protocol that employs, as a novel feature, iodinated single-stranded M13 probes to identify M13 subclones which contain sequences partially overlapping and contiguous to an initially determined sequence. The probes can also be used to screen lambda phage and in Southern and dot blot experiments.     

Intron-containing tRNA genes ofSulfolobus solfataricus

Summary Nucleotide sequences of four tRNA genes from the archaebacteriumSulfolobus solfataricus have been determined. Based upon DNA sequence analysis, three of the four genes contain presumptive intervening sequences (introns) in their anticodon loops. The three introns can form similar, but not identical, secondary structures. The cleavage site at the 3 end of all three introns occurs in a three-base bulge loop. All four genes lack an encoded 3 CCA terminus and are flanked by A+T-rich DNA sequences. Two of the genes are located on antiparallel DNA strands, with their 3 termini separated by 414 bp of sequence. Including two previously published sequences, a total of five introns have now been detected among sixS. solfataricus tRNA genes. Occurrence of introns at corresponding locations in both archaebacterial and eukaryotic tRNA genes suggests that the intron/exon form of gene structure predates the evolutionary divergence of the archaebacteria and the eukaryotes.     

Genes for tRNAIle and tRNAAla in the spacer between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes of a blue-green alga: strong homology to chloroplast tRNA genes and tRNA genes of the E. coli rrnD gene cluster.

A 6.3 kbp Eco RI-Bam HI fragment which carries most of one of the two rRNA gene clusters of the blue-green alga Anacystis nidulans was cloned into plasmid pBR322. Sequence analysis of the spacer region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes reveals the presence of genes for tRNAIle and tRNAAla. The 16S rRNA gene is separated from the tRNAIle gene by a 162 bp spacer which shows significant homology to the comparable region in Zea mays plastids. The spacer between the two tRNA genes is 33 bp long and can be folded into a 9 bp stem and loop structure. The 5' portion of the tRNAIle gene is 60% homologous to a "pseudogene"-like sequence which maps beyond the 5S rRNA gene.     

Distribution of introns in frameshift-suppressor proline-tRNA genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutations in the suf9, suf10, and suf11 genes of yeast suppress + 1 nucleotide (nt) insertions in proline codons. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicates that the suf9 and suf11 genes are members of the proline tRNA(UGG) gene family, which also includes three other previously identified genes, suf7, suf8, and trn1. All five members of this gene family contain introns. The suf9 and suf11 introns are 31 and 30 nt in length, respectively, and are similar but not identical in sequence to other introns within the family. The suf10 gene is identical in sequence to suf2, which was shown previously to encode proline tRNA(IGG). Both members of this gene family lack introns. Alleles of suf9, suf10, and suf11 that confer frameshift suppression were also analyzed. The SUF9-1 allele results in a G----U substitution at nt position 39 in the anticodon stem. The recessive suf11-1 allele is a double mutant containing the same nt position 39 alteration as in SUF9-1 plus a second U----A substitution at nt position 38 in the anticodon loop. The SUF10-1 suppressor mutation corresponds to a +1G insertion in the anticodon loop. Since the nt substitutions in suf11-1 alter the sequence of the 3' exon/intron boundary, the double mutant pre-tRNA was tested for its ability to be cleaved in vitro by tRNA-splicing endonuclease. It was found that suf11-1 pre-tRNA is cleaved with reduced efficiency at the 3' splice junction.