Valine specific transfer RNA (tRNAVal) was isolated from Bacillus stearothermophilus and Escherichia coli by chromatography on benzoylated DEAE–cellulose (BD–cellulose). Likewise isoleucine specific transfer RNA (tRNAIle) was isolated from B. stearothermophilus and from Mycoplasma sp. Kid. The thermal denaturation profiles (melting curves) of the two tRNAVal species in the presence of Mg+ + were nearly identical. However, the Tm for the Kid tRNAIle was about 10°C lower than that for the B. stearothermophilus tRNAIle. A nuclease and tRNA‐free aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetase (AA‐tRNA synthetase) preparation from B. stearothermophilus was able to function efficiently at temperatures up to 80°C in the aminoacylation of all four tRNA species. Determination of the amino acid‐acceptor activity of each tRNA species as a function of temperature of the aminoacylation reaction showed in each case a strong correlation between the loss of acceptor activity and the thermal denaturation profile of the tRNA. Evidence is presented that the loss in acceptor activity is most likely due to a change in structure of the tRNA as opposed to denaturation of the enzyme. These results further support the idea that correct secondary and/or tertiary structure must be maintained for tRNA to be active as a substrate for the AA‐tRNA synthetase.
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Johnson et al. (1971) studied this question.