Abstract
Wheat germ contains three chromatographically distinct methionine tRNA's, of which two species, one major and one minor, appear to function in protein chain initiation as demonstrated by the AUG-dependent reaction with puromycin on wheat germ ribosomes. Wheat germ extracts contain a very active transformylase which formylates the minor methionyl-tRNA. The major initiating methionyl-tRNA is not formylated or otherwise modified by wheat germ extracts. We postulate that protein chain initiation in the cytoplasm of wheat germ can be brought about by the major initiating methionyl-tRNA without prior formylation or other modification of the α amino group.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 416-421 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 27 1970 |
Funding
We wish to thank Mrs. Clara T. Kahn for invaluable assistance in these experiments, Dr. D. Yoshikami for wheat germ tRNA, and Dr. J. C. Rabinowitz for a generous gift of formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase. This investigation was supported by PHS Research Grant No. GM 10791 and Training Grant No. GM 00824.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology