Sequential processing of precursor tRNA molecules in Escherichia coli.

In a temperature-sensitive mutant of E. coli defective in tRNA biosynthesis, many tRNA precursors, including monomeric and multimeric forms, accumulate. Some of the multimeric precursors contain three or more tRNA sequences within a molecule. These large precursors were cleaved by cell extracts first into intermediate size pieces which were subsequently processed by RNase P. On the basis of heat stability of mutant cell extracts, the endonuclease responsible for the initial cleavage appears to be distinct from RNase P and is designated RNase O. One of the monomeric precursors was shown to be processed first by RNase P and the product subsequently cleaved further into a smaller molecule. The nuclease responsible for this second cleavage also appears to be distinct from RNase P and is designated RNase Q. The functions of these nucleases are sequential in the trimming process with respect to that of RNase P; RNase O works prior to RNase P and RNase Q after RNase P but in both cases, not vice versa.