On the properties of immobilized elongation factor Tu from Thermus thermophilus HB8

Elongation factor Tu from Thermus thermophilus was coupled to cyanogen-bromide-activated Sepharose 4B and its properties were investigated. The immobilized elongation factor retained its ligand binding properties. It specifically binds GDP and GTP but does not interact with other nucleotide 5'-phosphates. A conversion of immobilized EF-Tu . GDP to EF-Tu . GTP can be achieved by simple equilibration with GTP. The immobilized EF-Tu . GTP specifically binds aminoacyl-tRNAs and allows a facile purification of aminoacyl-tRNA species from bulk tRNA. It is stable at room temperature for several months and can be repeatedly used for aminoacyl-tRNA isolation.