The effects of a post-transcriptional modification on the function of tRNALys isoaccepting species in translation

Isoacceptors of rabbit liver tRNALys which preferentially translate the codon AAG were compared for their function in several aspects of translation. As shown in other laboratories, Lys-tRNALys1,2 are two isoacceptors which differ from each other by a single base pair and are fully modified with N6-threonyl-adenosine adjacent to the anticodon. Lys-tRNALys4, which occurs commonly in rapidly dividing mammalian cells and tissues, is hypomodified at several bases and contains a precursor of N6-threonyl-adenosine next to its anticodon. These isoacceptors were incubated in cell-free protein synthesizing systems which contain rabbit globin mRNA. (Lys-tRNALys3 which translates AAA was also included.) The resulting globin was isolated and digested with trypsin, and the relative incorporation of lysine from Lys-tRNALys1,2 and from Lys-tRNALys4 into lysine-containing sites in the globin peptides as determined. Lys-tRNALys1,2 and Lys-tRNALys4 translate AAG preferentially, but Lys-tRNALys4 wobbles more than the former and translates AAA codons more efficiently. Overall, Lys-tRNALys1,2 is preferred in globin synthesis by about 30% compared to Lys-tRNALys4, and with one exception, the incorporation of lysine into the individual AAG lysine-containing sites in globin occurs more efficiently from Lys-tRNALys1,2. There is, however, considerable variation from site to site in the relative efficiencies of the Lys-tRNAs in incorporation.