Transfer Ribonucleic Acids

Abstract Transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNAs) Abbreviations used according to IUPAC‐IUB convention: tRNA = transfer ribonucleic acid; tRNA yeast = mixture of tRNAs from yeast; tRNA Phe = phenylalanine specific tRNA; Phe‐tRNA = tRNA esterified (“charged”) with Phe; mRNA = messenger RNA; DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid; U = uridine; A = adenosine; C = cytidine; G = guanosine; pA = 5′‐adenylic acid; Ap or A‐ = 3′‐adenylic acid; m 2 ′G = 2′‐ O ‐methyl guanosine; m 7 G = 7‐methyl guanosine; m G = N (2)‐dimethyl guanosine; other methylated nucleosides are abbreviated analogously; abbreviations of other odd nucleosides are given with Fig. 2; p or – signifies phosphate; RNase = ribonuclease; DEAE = diethylaminoethyl; fMet = N ‐formayl methionine. occur in all living organisms. In biological protein synthesis they accept activated amino acids which are then transferred to growing peptide chains. With molecular weights lying between 25000 and 30000, tRNAs are easily within the reach of today's physical, chemical, and biochemical methods. The primary structures of several tRNAs as well as some relationships between structure and function have been elucidated. Three‐dimensional structure, specificity, and mechanism of action are the subjects of present research efforts.