Changes of post-transcriptional modification of wye base in tumor-specific tRNAPhe

Nucleotide sequences of normal mouse liver tRNAPhe and tumor-specific tRNAPhes isolated from Ehrlich ascites tumor and neuroblastoma cells were examined by post-labeling techniques. The results showed that their sequences are identical, except for changes in post-transcriptional modifications that are located in the anticodon region. Normal mouse liver tRNAPhe contained Cm32, Gm34 and YOH37. On the other hand, tumor-specific tRNAPhes were found in one of two possible configurations: 1) Cm32, Gm34 and Y*OH37 (under-modified YOH) or 2) C32, G34 and m1G37. The ratio of the two forms of tRNAPhes differed in different tumor cells; Ehrlich ascites tumor tRNAPhe had mainly Y*OH-containing tRNAPhe whereas neuroblastoma tRNAPhe has predominantly m1G-containing tRNAPhe. It was concluded that tumor-specific tRNAPhes are products of different extents of modification, rather than of new tRNA transcription.