[Methylation of tRNA in Carcinus maenas gonadal cultures: inhibition by purified androgenic gland extract].

Subcultures of ovaries and testis of the crab Carcinus maenas have been performed in the presence of L-[Me-14C]methionine. Introduction in the medium of a chromatographically-purified liposoluble fraction from the androgenic glands of the same animal inhibits the biological methylation of the tRNA of the ovaries by 62%. The inhibition of methylation of five individual bases varies from 45% to 84%. No inhibition of tRNA methylation is observed under the same conditions with testis subcultures.