Biosynthesis of selenium-modified tRNAs in Methanococcus vannielii

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.87.16.6345· OSTI ID:6787357

Politino, M; Tsai, L; Veres, Z; Stadtman, T C ^[1]

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1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD (USA)

Selenium-containing nucleosides are natural components of several tRNA species in Methanococcus vannielii. In the present study, the incorporation of selenium from 75SeO3(2-) into these macromolecules was investigated in sonic extracts of M. vannielii. Nucleoside analysis of the 75Se-labeled tRNAs from these in vitro reaction mixtures demonstrated that the selenium was present in 75Se-labeled nucleosides identical to the two naturally occurring 2-selenouridines produced in vivo. Incorporation of selenium into these nucleosides was ATP-dependent and was maximal after 20 min. Addition of O-acetylserine enhanced the activity 2- to 3-fold, implicating a role for selenocysteine in the reaction. Added L-selenocysteine could function as a selenium donor, but the D isomer and DL-selenomethionine were inactive. RPC-5 chromatography of bulk tRNA isolated from M. vannielii grown on 75SeO3(2-) separated five major species of seleno-tRNAs. The amino acid-accepting activity of these tRNAs was investigated.

• OSTI ID: 6787357
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA), Vol. 87:16; ISSN 0027-8424
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
SELENIUM
METABOLISM
TRANSFER RNA
BIOSYNTHESIS
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
METALLOPROTEINS
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
SELENIUM 75
TRACER TECHNIQUES
BACTERIA
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEI
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RADIOISOTOPES
RNA
SELENIUM ISOTOPES
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550501 - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques