Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses
Published on: February 25, 2011
tmRNA from Thermus thermophilus. Interaction with alanyl-tRNA synthetase and elongation factor Tu
Victor G Stepanov1, Jens Nyborg
1Institute of Molecular and Structural Biology, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
Abstract:
The interaction of a Thermus thermophilus tmRNA transcript with alanyl-tRNA synthetase and elongation factor Tu has been studied. The synthetic tmRNA was found to be stable up to 70 degrees C. The thermal optimum of tmRNA alanylation was determined to be around 50 degrees C. At 50 degrees C, tmRNA transcript was aminoacylated by alanyl-tRNA synthetase with 5.9 times lower efficiency (kcat/Km) than tRNAAla, primarily because of the difference in turnover numbers (kcat). Studies on EF-Tu protection of Ala approximately tmRNA against alkaline hydrolysis revealed the existence of at least two different binding sites for EF-Tu on charged tmRNA. The possible nature of these binding sites is discussed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Transfer RNA Synthesis
Each of these chemical modifications is carried by a specific enzyme, post-transcription. All of these enzymes have unique base and site-specificity. Methylation, the most common chemical modification, is carried by at least nine different enzymes, with...
tRNA Activation
tRNA Activation
Improving Translational Accuracy
Initiation of Translation
First, the initiator tRNA must be selected from the pool of elongator tRNAs by eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). The initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAi) has conserved sequence elements including modified bases at...
Initiation of Translation
First, the initiator tRNA must be selected from the pool of elongator tRNAs by eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). The initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAi) has conserved sequence elements including modified bases at...

