Proton magnetic resonance of transfer RNA.

The temperature dependence of the areas under the proton magnetic resonance spectra of unfractionated yeast transfer RNA in 1.0 molar NaCl is a consequence of salt-induced aggregation and does not constitute a monitor of the melting of secondary molecular structure. Such melting can be observed by following the widths of the resonances in the various regions of the spectra. Peaks attributable to dihydrouracil and the methyl groups of the methylated bases are detected in the spectra of unfractionated transfer RNA and alanine transfer RNA.