Antibodies to yeast phenylalanine transfer ribonucleic acid are specific for the odd nucleoside ) in the anticodon loop.

Antibodies with specificity to a single species of tRNA were elicited in a goat by immunization with a glutaraldehyde conjugate of yeast phenylalanine transfer RNA with bovine gamma globulin. The specificity of the antibodies was studied by a radioimmunoassay measuring the direct binding of [(3)H]tRNA(Phe) or the inhibition of the binding. The antibodies formed are predominantly directed towards the characteristic highly modified nucleoside Y, which is located right next to the anticodon. The antibodies bind specifically to tRNA(Phe), to oligonucleotides derived by enzymatic digestion from the anticodon loop of tRNA(Phe), and to the Y nucleoside itself. tRNA species which do not contain Y in their sequences, or tRNA(Phe) from which the Y base has been excised, do not bind to the antibodies. Yeast tRNA(Phe) can be separated from other tRNA species with an immunoadsorbent of antibodies to tRNA(Phe).