Affinity modification of Escherichia coli ribosomes by 4-[(N-2-chloroethyl)N-methylamino]benzyl-5'-phosphamide hexauridylate in a complex stabilized by codon-anticodon interactions on P and A sites

Affinity labeling of E. coli ribosomes with 4-[(N-2-chloroethyl)-N-methylamino] benzyl-5'-phosphamide of hexauridylate was studied within the complex containing tRNAPhe at P site and Phe-tRNAPhe at A site directed by EF-Tu and GTP. Ribosomal proteins as well as rRNA both in 30S and 50S subunits were found to be labelled within the complex. Labeled proteins were identified as S3, S9 and L2. Selectivity of affinity labeling with mRNA analogs was shown to depend on the functional state of the ribosomes. Modification was more selective within the complex stabilized by codon-anticodon interaction both at A and P-sites than within the complex in which this interaction takes place preferentially at P site.     

Selective alkylation of G24 residue in tRNAPhe

Alkylation of E. coli tRNAPhe with 4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino) benzyl-5'-phosphamide of oligonucleotide d(pAACCA) was studied. G24 residue located near the sequence C17GGDA21 partially complementary to the oligonucleotide moiety of the reagent was shown to be alkylated. Oligonucleotide d(pAACCA) inhibited the alkylation. Association constant of oligonucleotide derivative with tRNAPhe (10(3) M-1) was evaluated from the dependence of the extent of tRNA modification on the concentration of the reagent. The reported method for selective alkylation of tRNA may be used for preparing photoaffinity derivatives of tRNA bearing an arylazidogroups in desired position.     

ENDOGENOUS CHANGES OF PHOTOCHEMICAL ACTIVITIES OF SPINACH LEAVES

The activities of green cell-free extracts of spinach leavesin performing photochemical transphosphorylation, photosyntheticphosphorylation, the HILL reaction and the light-induced formationof the endogenous reducing substance (ascorbic acid) were followedin parallel during the growth process of the plant. There wasa certain parallelism between the development of the activitiesof photochemical transphosphorylation, of photo-synthetic phosphorylationand of the HILL reaction, activities being low in the earlierstage of growth, reaching a maximum just before efflorescence,and showing thereafter a more or less sharp decline. The activityin the light-induced formation of endogenous reducing substancewas undetectable for the first 35 day-period of growth, reacheda maximum about one week earlier than the other three activities,and again disappeared after 60 days of growth. (Received September 9, 1960; )     

The proteins of the messenger RNA binding site of Escherichia coli ribosomes.

Oligo(U) derivatives with [14C]-4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino)benzaldehyde attached to 3'-end cis-diol group via acetal bond, p(Up)n-1UCHRCl as well as with [14C]-4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino)benzylamine attached to 5'-phosphate via amide bond, ClRCH2NHpU(pU)6 were used to modify 70S E. coli ribosomes near mRNA binding centre. Within ternary complex with ribosome and tRNAPhe all reagents covalently bind to ribosome the extent of modification being 0.1-0.4 mole/mole 70S. p(Up)n-1UCHRCl alkylates either 30S (n=5,7) or both subunits (n=6,8). rRNA is preferentially modified within 30S subunit. ClRCH2NHpU(pU)6 alkylates both subunits the proteins being mainly modified. The distribution of the label among proteins differ for various reagents. S4, S5, S7, S9, S11, S13, S15, S18 and S21 are found to be alkylated within 30S subunit, proteins L1, L2, L6, L7/L12, L19, L31 and L32 are modified in the 50S subunit. Most proteins modified within 30S subunit are located at the "head" of this subunit and proteins modified within 50S subunit are located at the surface of the contact between this subunit and the "head" of 30S subunit at the model of Stoffler.     

Structural arrangement of the decoding site of Escherichia coli ribosomes as revealed from the data on affinity labelling of ribosomes by analogs of mRNA--derivatives of oligoribonucleotides

Using derivatives of oligoribonucleotides bearing an active group at the 5'- or 3'-end, the affinity modification of Escherichia coli ribosomes has been investigated in model complexes imitating various steps of initiation and elongation with a different extent of approximation to the real protein-synthesizing system. The protein environment of the ribosome decoding site is determined. The S3, S4, S9, L2, L7/L12 proteins belong to the 5'-region of the decoding site, and the S5, S7, S9, L1, L16 proteins to the 3'-region. In the process of translation the template moves along the external side of the 30 S subunit, from the L1 ridge to the L7/L12 stalk. The structural arrangement of the decoding site or its nearest environment depends on the functional state of ribosomes in the process of translation.     

Further studies on the role of cell-wall-degrading enzymes in cell-wall loosening in oat coleoptiles

A fungal endo-ß-l,3-glucanase was compared with afungal exo-ß-1,3-glucanase with respect to their effectson elongation and cell-wall extensibility in oat coleoptilesegments. The exo-enzyme enhanced elongation and extensibilityof the cell wall. Its effect was not additive to the effectof indole-3-acetic acid when given together with the latter,at least during 3 hr of incubation. Endo-glucanase showed nosignificant effect on elongation and no interaction with theexo-enzyme. Auxin and exo-glucanase increased extensibilityof the cell wall. The exo-glucanase was separated by isoelectricfocusing. The two fractions which were separated and showedglucanase activity induced elongation and cell wall loosening. (Received March 16, 1970; )     

Alkylation of tRNAPhe with 4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino) benzyl-5'-phosphamide of d(ATTTTCA)

Alkylation of E. coli tRNAPhe with 4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino)benzyl-5'-phosphamide of oligonucleotide d(ATTTTCA) complementary to the sequence UGAAms2i6AA psi in the anticodon loop of tRNAPhe was studied. Three guanine residues--G28/29, G24 and G10 were found to be alkylated. Two binding sites for the reagent in the tRNA were assumed to be present. The efficiency of the alkylation of tRNA from these sites as well as an average association constant (Ka 3,8 X 10(3)M-1) for the reagent interaction with tRNA were evaluated.     

Preparation of Escherichia coli 70S ribosomes labeled with 35S

[35S]--70S ribosomes (150 Ci/mmol) were isolated from E. coli MRE-600 cells grown on glucose-mineral media in the presence of [35S] ammonium sulfate. The labeled 30S and 50S subunits were obtained from [35S] ribosomes by centrifugation in a sucrose density gradient of 10--30% under dissociating conditions (0.5 mM Mg2+). The activity of [35S]--70S ribosomes obtained by reassociation of the labeled subunits during poly(U)-dependent diphenylalanine synthesis was not less than 70%. The activity of [35S]--70S ribosomes during poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis was nearly the same as that of the standard preparation of unlabeled ribosomes. The 23S, 16S and 5S RNAs isolated from labeled ribosomes as total rRNA contained no detectable amounts of their fragments as revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The [35S] ribosomal proteins isolated from labeled ribosomes were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The [35S] label was found in all proteins, with the exception of L20, L24 and L33 which did not contain methionine or cysteine residues.     

Evolutionary history of tall fescue morphotypes inferred from molecular phylogenetics of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lolium</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca</Emphasis>species complex

Background  

The agriculturally important pasture grass tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. syn. Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.) is an outbreeding allohexaploid, that may be more accurately described as a species complex consisting of three major (Continental, Mediterranean and rhizomatous) morphotypes. Observation of hybrid infertility in some crossing combinations between morphotypes suggests the possibility of independent origins from different diploid progenitors. This study aims to clarify the evolutionary relationships between each tall fescue morphotype through phylogenetic analysis using two low-copy nuclear genes (encoding plastid acetyl-CoA carboxylase [Acc1] and centroradialis [CEN]), the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (rDNA ITS) and the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) genome-located matK gene. Other taxa within the closely related Lolium-Festuca species complex were also included in the study, to increase understanding of evolutionary processes in a taxonomic group characterised by multiple inter-specific hybridisation events.     

Comparison of homoeolocus organisation in paired BAC clones from white clover (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium repens</Emphasis> L.) and microcolinearity with model legume species

Background  

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is an outbreeding allotetraploid species and an important forage legume in temperate grassland agriculture. Comparison of sub-genome architecture and study of nucleotide sequence diversity within allopolyploids provides insight into evolutionary divergence mechanisms, and is also necessary for the development of whole-genome sequencing strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the degree of divergence between the O and P' sub-genomes of white clover through sequencing of BAC clones containing paired homoeoloci. The microsyntenic relationships between the genomes of white clover and the model legumes Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula as well as Arabidopsis thaliana were also characterised.