Identification of an aspartate transfer RNA gene in maize mitochondrial DNA.

A gene for a transfer RNA (tRNA) specific for aspartic acid was identified in maize mitochondrial DNA. The nucleotide sequence and predicted secondary structure of this tRNA more closely resemble eubacterial and chloroplast aspartate tRNA genes than other mitochondrial aspartate tRNA genes. This gene is located on a 3,123 base pair EcoRI DNA fragment that also contains an elongator methionine tRNA gene. These two tRNA genes are separated by 726 nucleotides and are located on opposite strands of DNA.