Purification and properties of bovine liver seryl-tRNA synthetase

Seryl-tRNA synthetase was purified 1800-fold from bovine liver extract by ultracentrifugation at 150 000 X g, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, fractional precipitation with ammonium sulfate, gel chromatography on Sephacryl S-300, adsorption chromatography on hydroxyapatite, affinity chromatography on blue-Sepharose and finally on Matrex gel red A. The relative molecular mass, Mr, in the denatured state was estimated as 87 000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate disc gel electrophoresis; in the active state the Mr, was estimated as 170 000 for the dimeric native enzyme (alpha 2 type) by chromatography on Sephacryl S-300. The amino acid composition of the enzyme was determined. The Km values for ATP and serine were 0.49 mM and 30 microM, respectively. The Km values for tRNASerIGA and tRNASerCmCA were 1.40 microM and 1.25 microM, respectively. Sequences common to the two isoaccepting tRNASer molecules are discussed in relation to the recognition mechanism of the purified seryl-tRNA synthetase.