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The minimal tRNA: unique structure of Ascaris suum mitochondrial tRNA Ser UCU having a short T arm and lacking the entire D arm
Author(s) -
Ohtsuki Takashi,
Kawai Gota,
Watanabe Kimitsuna
Publication year - 2002
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/s0014-5793(02)02328-1
Subject(s) - ascaris suum , transfer rna , t arm , biology , genetics , rna , gene , zoology , helminths
The tertiary structure of Ascaris suum mitochondrial tRNA Ser UCU was examined by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis using its transcript, since tRNA Ser UCU , lacking the D arm and possessing a truncated T arm, is the shortest of all the known tRNAs. Most basepairs in the proposed secondary structure of tRNA Ser UCU were shown to exist, but the connector region comprising the truncated D loop and the extra loop was flexible. This flexibility, would enable adjustment of the mutual distance between the 3′‐terminus and the anticodon consistent with that of usual tRNAs. Thus, tRNA Ser UCU appears to function in a similar way to that of usual tRNAs in the ribosome.