Molecular aspects of chloride cell formation in Oncorhynchus. II. Isolation and characterization of gill transfer RNA's during active salt secretion.

The transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNAs) from gill filaments of coho salmon, Oncorynchus kisutch, have been isolated and were separated into individual species of acceptor tRNAs by reversed-phase column chromotography. Crude tRNAs isolated from gill filaments undergoing active salt excretion were acrylated with 14C-amino acids and combined with tRNAs acylated with 3H-amino acids, but obtained from non-secreting filaments. The radioactively labeled tRNA mixture was cochromatographed and the results showed significant differences in the elution profiles of tRNAasp and tRNAtyr. These elution profiles may reflect the differentiation of the chloride cell population that is found within the gill epithelium.