Detection of unique tRNA species in tumor tissues by Escherichia coli guanine insertion enzyme.

The guanine insertion enzyme from Escherichia coli catalyzes exchange of guanine located at the first position of the anticodon of tRNA with radioactive guanine (N. Okada and S. Nishimura, unpublished data). tRNA isolated from various tumors, including slowly growing Morris hepatoma 7794A, incorporated considerable guanine with E. coli guanine insertion enzyme, whereas tRNA isolated from all normal tissues so far tested, except regenerating rat liver, incorporated scarcely any. In the rat ascites hepatoma AH7974, the guanine was mostly incorporated into minor isoaccepting species of tRNAAsp that contained the guanine residue instead of Q base in the first position of the anticodon. This is a sensitive and easy method for identifying unique tRNA species in tumor tissues.