Methylation of an adenosine in the D-loop of specific transfer RNAs from yeast by a procaryotic tRNA (adenine-1) methyltransferase

Abstract

tRNA (adenine-1) methyltransferase occurs in Bacillus subtilis. Eucaryotic tRNAThr and tRNATyr from yeast in which 1-methyladenosine (m1A) is already present in the TpsiC loop, can be methylated in vitro with S-adenosylmethionine and B. subtilis extracts. Each of the specific tRNAs accepts 1 mol of methyl groups per mol tRNA. The enzyme transforms into m1A the 3'-terminal adenylic acid residue of the dihydrouridine loop, a new position for a modified adenosine residue in tRNA. Both tRNAs have the sequence Py-A-A-G-G-C-m2(2)G in the D-loop and D-stem region. Other tRNAs with the same sequence in this region also serve as substrates for the tRNA (adenine-1) methyltransferase.