The forms of tRNATrp found in avian sarcoma virus and uninfected chicken cells have structural identity but...

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the avian tRNATrp which serves as primer for avian retrovirus DNA synthesis by the viral polymerase. The sequence is identical to that reported for tRNATrp present in uninfected avian cells (Harada, F., Sawyer, R. C., and Dahlberg, J. E. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 3487-3497). Although there appears to be only a single species of tRNATrp in avian cells, two functionally different forms within the population can be distinguished. We show that the tRNATrp isolated from virions can act in vitro as an efficient suppressor for UGA. The suppressor activity is roughly 3-fold greater with viral tRNATrp than with cellular tRNATrp. In addition, it has been reported (Panet, A., Haseltine, W. A., Baltimore, D., Peters, G., Harada, F., and Dahlberg, J. E. (1975) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 72, 2535-2539) that the viral polymerase can bind 100% of viral tRNATrp, but only 30% of cellular tRNATrp. Hence, avian retroviruses seem to selectively incorporate and utilize only one of these forms. Since the nucleotide sequence and nucleoside modifications are identical between viral and cellular tRNATrp, two conformations of avian tRNATrp may exist which can influence several biological activities of the molecule.