Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
The tertiary structure of tRNA in solution can be proved by chemical modification experiments. Three reagents, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and dimethylsulfate which are known to alkylate nucleic acids at nucleophilic centers were compared. It is found that N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea mainly react with phosphate residues and dimethylsulfate only with the bases. With dimethylsulfate the extent of alkylation of guanosines is about one order of magnitude higher than that of the phosphates by the nitroso compounds.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Barciszewski et al. (1982) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: