The Function of Pseudouridylic Acid in Transfer Ribonucleic Acid
Year: 1970
Type: article
Abstract: The function of pseudouridylic acid and of 4-thiouridylic acid in formylmethionine transfer RNA of Escherichia coli has been explored by cyanoethylation with acrylonitrile. By splitting the molecule into two complementary parts before chemical reaction, it was possible to modify specifically one of these nucleotides without reaction of the other. Recombination of the two fragments reconstituted acceptor activity only when the pseudouridylic acid-containing fragment was unmodified, and the rate of inactivation of this fragment could only be accounted for by reaction of its pseudouridylate residue. On the other hand, cyanoethylation of the 4-thiouridylate-containing fragment did not appreciably affect the methionine-accepting capacity of the recombined fragments. The pseudouridylate residue appears to be important in some way for proper transfer RNA-enzyme recognition but the 4-thiouridylate still has no known function.
Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry
Authors: M.A.Q. Siddiqui, James Ofengand
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,430
OpenAlex ID: W68098729