Biochemical research on oogenesis: distribution of tRNA-linked peptides and proteins in previtellogenic oocytes of Xenopus laevis.

Peptides and proteins were detected in the deacylation products of tRNA purified from the 42S particles and from the messenger ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) present in the previtellogenic oocytes of Xenopus laevis. Only a small fraction of particle tRNA carries a peptide or protein chain. The bulk of particle tRNA is simply aminoacylated. The tRNA-linked peptide chains of the particles appear to turn over more slowly in vivo than aminoacyl tRNA. These chains could arise in the particles by a peptidyl transfer reaction similar to that carried out by the ribosome.