Identification of the magnesium, europium and lead binding sites in E. coli and lupine tRNAPhe by specific metal ion‐induced cleavages

Abstract

The Pb, Eu and Mg-induced cleavages in E. coli and lupine tRNA^Phe have been characterized and compared with those found in yeast tRNA^Phe. The pattern of lupine tRNA^Phe hydrolysis closely resembles that of yeast tRNA^Phe, while several major differences occur in the specificity and efficiency of the E. coli tRNA^Phe hydrolysis. The latter tRNA is cleaved with much lower yield in the D-loop, and interestingly, cleavage is also detected in the variable region, that is highly resistant to hydrolysis in eukaryotic tRNAs. The possible location of tight Pb, Eu and Mg binding sites in E. coli tRNA^Phe is discussed on the basis of the specific hydrolysis data.