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The T‐domain of cytosolic tRNA Val , an essential determinant for mitochondrial import
Author(s) -
Laforest Marie-Josée,
Delage Ludovic,
Maréchal-Drouard Laurence
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.12.079
Subject(s) - transfer rna , cytosol , chemistry , mitochondrion , domain (mathematical analysis) , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , rna , enzyme , gene , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Import of tRNAs into plant mitochondria appears to be highly specific. We recently showed that the anticodon and the D‐domain sequences are essential determinants for tRNA Val import into tobacco cell mitochondria. To determine the minimal set of elements required to direct import of a cytosol‐specific tRNA species, tobacco cells were transformed with an Arabidopsis thaliana intron‐containing tRNA Met‐e gene carrying the D‐domain and the anticodon of a valine tRNA. Although well expressed and processed into tobacco cells, this mutated tRNA was shown to remain in the cytosol. Furthermore, a mutant tRNA Val carrying the T‐domain of the tRNA Met‐e , although still efficiently recognized by the valyl‐tRNA synthetase, is not imported into mitochondria. Altogether these results suggest that mutations affecting the core of a tRNA molecule also alter its import ability into plant mitochondria.