Brain transfer RNA. II. Analysis of modified nucleosides.

Transfer RNAs were isolated from rat and calf brains and their nucleosides were analysed by tritium derivative technique. Qualitative changes in the minor nucleoside components were compared on the fluorograms which showed differences in the intensities of spots. Cerebellar and cortical tRNAs were also compared, but revealed no significant quantitative differences in their methylated constituants despite 60% higher methyltransferase activity observed in cerebellum compared to cerebral cortex. An overall similarity was noticed between the relative proportions of the major and minor nucleosides of tRNAs derived from rat or calf brain, expressed as mol%. Brain tRNA was also analysed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which showed qualitative and quantitative changes during postnatal development.