Aminoacyl synthetase and transfer ribonucleic acid patterns in normal and neoplastic tissues

Abstract

Aminoacyl synthetase and transfer RNA fractions were obtained from normal rat liver and from Novikoff ascites tumor cells. The tRNA's were precharged with H 3 or C 14-labeled amino acids and the labeled aminoacyl tRNA's were resolved by reversed phase column chromatography. Elution profiles of the aminoacyl tRNA's of liver and tumor were similar for arginine, the most extensively studied amino acid. Comparisons of the aminoacyl tRNA patterns revealed that the tumor and liver were almost identical with respect to each of the following amino acids: threonine, histidine, methionine, glutamic acid, and tyrosine. Minor deviations in the aminoacyl tRNA patterns of the two cell types were seen in the valine series and with serine. When liver phenylalanyl tRNA was chromatographed on the reversed phase columns, three peaks were observed. In contrast, the tumor phenylalanyl tRNA was lacking in the first peak present in the liver pattern and the second phenylalanyl tRNA peak of the tumor was displaced. The significance of these findings is considered in terms of the role of the aminoacyl synthetases and tRNA's in cancer induction and in the function of malignant tumor cells.