Sequence and structure of a methionine transfer RNA from mosquito mitochondria

We have sequenced a methionine tRNA from mosquito mitochondria, and examined its structure using nucleases S1 and T1 under non-denaturing conditions. The sequence is highly homologous to a putative initiator methionine tRNA gene from Drosophila mitochondria. Its anticodon stem contains a run of three G-C base pairs that is characteristic of conventional initiator tRNAs; however, nuclease S1 analysis suggested an anticodon loop configuration characteristic of conventional elongator tRNAs. We propose that this tRNA can assume both initiator and elongator roles.