Identity elements and aminoacylation of plant tRNA(Trp)

Abstract

Mutation of the Arabidopsis thaliana tRNA(CCA)(Trp) anticodon or of the A73 discriminator base greatly diminishes in vitro aminoacylation with tryptophan, indicating the importance of these nucleotides for recognition by the plant tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase. Mutation of the tRNA(CCA)(Trp) anticodon to CUA so as to translate amber nonsense codons permits tRNA(CCA)(Trp) be aminoacylated by A. thaliana lysyl-tRNA synthetase. Thus, translational suppression by tRNA(CCA)(Trp) observed in plant cells includes significant incorporation of lysine into protein.