Cellular changes have been monitored during the suppression, mediated by the overproduction of tRNALys, of thermosensitivity in Escherichia coli strain AA7852 carrying a mutation in peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase (Pth) encoded by the pth(Ts) gene. The presence in AA7852 cells of a plasmid bearing lysV gene helped to maintain low levels of the unstable Pth(Ts) protein and to preserve the viability of the mutant line at 41°C whereas plasmids bearing other tRNA genes were ineffective. At 32°C the excess of tRNALys did not alter the percentages of the free-, charged- or peptidyl-tRNALys species compared with those found in strains that did not overproduce tRNALys. At 41°C, however, despite increases in the level of peptidyl-tRNALys, the excess tRNALys helped to maintain the concentration of charged-tRNALys at a level comparable with that found in non-overproducer cells grown at a permissive temperature. In addition, the excess tRNALys at 41°C provoked a reduction in the concentrations of various peptidyl-tRNAs, which normally accumulate in pth(Ts) cells, and a proportional increase in the concentrations of the corresponding aminoacyl-tRNAs. The possible mechanism of rescue due to the overexpression of tRNALys and the causes of tRNALys starvation in pth(Ts) strains grown at non-permissive temperatures are considered.