Effect of hypermethylation on the functional properties of transfer ribonucleic acid.

1. The ability of chemically hypermethylated Escherichia coli B transfer RNA to accept 19 amino acids was studied and the results were compared with those obtained with a control sample of E. coli B transfer RNA incubated under similar conditions in the absence of methylating agent. 2. There is a marked decrease in the ability of the modified transfer RNA to accept amino acids in almost all instances. 3. The acceptance of cysteine appears to be unique in that it is enhanced in the hypermethylated transfer RNA. 4. More detailed studies on the kinetics of acceptance for six amino acids is presented, emphasizing the variation in response of the individual amino acids. 5. Increasing hypermethylation causes a progressive decrease in the amino acid acceptance. 6. The results are discussed in terms of methylation at functional sites within the transfer RNA and possible conformational alterations to the structure of the macromolecule.