Arginyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli affinity labeling with 3'-oxidized tRNA(Arg).

The covalent modification of E. coli arginyl-tRNA synthetase by the 2',3'-dialdehyde derivative of tRNA(Arg) (tRNA(oxArg)) resulted in the complete inactivation of the ATP-PPi exchange and aminoacylation activities of the enzyme. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the ArgRS-tRNA(oxArg) covalent complexes indicated that two bands simultaneously appeared on the gel parallel with inactivation corresponding to different higher molecular weights. This result was different from that of the other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase labeling systems as previously reported. Upon the ribonuclease treatment of the modified ArgRS, less than 15% of both the initial ATP-PPi exchange and aminocylation activities were recovered. During the whole process of labeling and RNase treatment, the two activities of the enzyme were closely associated.