Characterization of Phaseolus vulgaris cytoplasmic, chloroplastic and mitochondrial tRNAs Phe; Aminoacylation by homologous and heterologous enzymes

Abstract

Phaseolus vulgaris tRNAs Phe can be fractionated by reverse phase chromatography into four species: • Once cytoplasmic tRNA Phe, which can be aminoacylated by the cytoplasmic phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase, but not by the chloroplastic, mitochondrial or E. coli enzyme • Two chloroplastic tRNAs Phe, which can be aminoacylated by the chloroplastic, mitochondrial or bacterial enzyme, but not by the cytoplasmic enzyme • One mitochondrial tRNA Phe, which can be charged by the mitochondrial, chloroplastic or bacterial enzyme, but not by the cytoplasmic enzyme. The similarity between organellar and prokaryotic tRNAs Phe suggested by these cross-aminoacylation reactions has recently been confirmed by structure comparisons.