The nucleotide sequences of the two glutamine transfer ribonucleic acids from Escherichia coli.

The nucleotide sequences of the two glutamine tRNA species in Escherichia coli K12 have been determined. Sufficient data was obtained to order unambiguously the products of complete RNase digestion of tRNA2Gln, and all but one oligonucleotide from tRNA1Gln. The sequence of tRNA1Gln was established by analogy with tRNA1Gln, as the two tRNAs are very similar, differing by only 7 residues out of 75. tRNA1Gln has the anticodon NUG, where N is a modified nucleotide which is likely to be a derivative of 2-thiouridine, and is specific for the codon CAA. tRNA1Gln has the anticodon CUG, and is specific for the codon CAG (Folk, W. R., and Yaniv, M. (1972) Nature 237, 165). The complete sequences of the tRNAGln species are: See journal for formula (Unique residues are enclosed in parentheses, with the residue in tRNA1Gln above that in tRNA2Gln.).     

Infrared spectra of transfer ribonucleic acids. 3. Fragments of formyl-methionine tRNA from Escherichia coli

Four fragments (named K, L, M, and N) of Escherichia coli formylmethionine transfer RNA have been prepared by a partial digestion with ribonuclease T¹ followed by a chromatographic separation with a DEAE–Sphadex (A-25) column and then a DEAE–cellulose column. The fragment K is the anticodon fragment with 19 nucleotides (previously reported). L is a fragment with 57 nucleotides involving the 3′-terminal (CCA). M is a fragment with 51 nucleotides which is equal to L except that M lacks 6 nucleotides at the 3′-terminal. N is a fragment with 20 nucleotides which involved the 5′-terminal and corresponds to the complementary half to L. The infrared absorption spectrum has been observed of each of these fragments and two equimolar mixtures L + N and M + N in D₂O solutions at several temperatures. The results indicate that at 37°C, K has about 4 hydrogen-bonded base-pairs, L about 11, and M about 13. On the other hand, fragment N is found to have only three weak G-C pairs. For both L + N and M + N, 15–17 strong base pairs are found. The observations give direct support to the clover-leaf structure and at the same time provide information on the stability of each of the four arms in the structure.