Organization and expression of tRNA genes in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract

Transfer RNA molecules are an integral component of the cellular protein-synthesizing machinery responsible for matching a codon in an RNA with the appropriate anticodon so that the correct amino acid is inserted into the growing polypeptide chain. In addition, tRNA species have also been implicated in various regulatory processes (for review, see LaRossa and Soll 1978). All tRNAs possess similar general structural features which allow for efficient recognition by the ribosome or by some nucleases involved in tRNA maturation. They also contain specific recognition features for interaction with cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and tRNA modifying enzymes. Thus tRNA, with its relatively small size but diverse structural and functional characteristics, provides a potentially useful molecule for the study of macromolecular structure-function relationships.