Preparation and properties of monomercurated tRNA

Monomercurated tRNA has been prepared by exhaustive treatment of mercaptoethanol on polymercurated tRNA under non-denaturing conditions. The remained mercury atom is stable toward ultraviolet (254 nm) irradiation up to absorption of 100 quanta/nucleotide, but could be easily removed by mercaptoethanol under denaturing conditions. Monomercurated tRNA quantitatively binds to thiopropyl-Sepharose and can be completely desorbed by mercaptoethanol-containing solutions. Monomercurated tRNA is similar to the starting tRNA preparation in efficiency and specificity of aminoacylation and in factor-dependent polypeptide synthesis in vitro.