[Comparative analysis of interaction sites of Thermus thermophilus and Escherichia coli tRNA(Tyr) with homologous aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases by means of chemical modification and nuclease hydrolysis].

A nucleotide sequence of tRNA(Tyr) from the extreme thermophile Thermus thermophilus HB-27 living at 75 degrees C was determined. It is 86 nt long and shares a 52% homology with tRNA(Tyr) from Escherichia coli. A comparative analysis of the interaction sites of tRNA(Tyr) from T. thermophilus and E. coli with the cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases was accomplished by the chemical modification and nuclease hydrolysis approaches. The tRNA(Tyr) was shown to interact with the cognate enzyme in the anticodon stem (on the 5'-side), in the anticodon, in the variable stem and loop (on the 5'-side), and in the acceptor stem (on the 3'-side). These regions are located in the variable stem of the L-form. It was demonstrated that, upon forming the complex E. coli tRNA(Tyr)-cognate synthetase, endonuclease V1 induces additional cleavages of phosphodiester bonds on the 3'-side of the anticodon stem and on the 5'-side of the T-stem. This implies that tRNA may change its conformation when it interacts with the enzyme.