Study of the structure of tRNA by the energy migration method using fluorescent labels covalently bound to specific tRNA loci
Strel'tsov, S.A.; Surovaia, A.N.; Aleksandrova, L.A.
Molekuliarnaia Biologiia 12(2): 385-396
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-8984 PMID: 349362 Document Number: 126317
Optical and fluorescent characteristics of fluorescein covalently attached to 3'-end of tRNAFhe and X-nucleotide in the extra arm of several species of tRNA from E. coli have been studied. The probe is shown to be a sensitive factor indicating the conformational change of tRNA induced by Mg2+ and Na+ ions. By measuring the extent of energy transfer the distances between the fluorescent probe attached to 3'-terminus and X-nucleotide of tRNA and specific binding site of ethidium bromide on tRNA were determined to be 40.5 A and 32.5 A, respectively. The distances measured are in good agreement with the NMR spectroscopy data showing that the specific binding site for ethidium bromide on tRNA is localised near the sixth base pair of the acceptor stem.