Construction and characterization of an Escherichia coli mutant with a deletion of the metZ gene encoding tRNA (f1Met).

The Escherichia coli metZ gene encoding tRNA (f1Met) was replaced by the chloramphenicol-resistance-encoding gene. The resulting mutant exhibited slightly lower growth rates as compared to the wild type at 37 degrees C or 42 degrees C, but grew apparently slower than the latter at 30 degrees C, indicating a slight cold sensitivity of growth. beta-Galactosidase was produced efficiently from the start codon AUG of the intact lacZ gene or trpA'::lac' Z fusion gene, in the metZ deletion mutant. The lac repressor from the lacI gene and the chimeric protein from a hupB' ::lac'Z fusion gene, whose start codons are GUG, were also synthesised in the deletion mutant. These results provide evidence that tRNA (f1Met) is not essential for growth of E. coli and that the start codons, AUG and GUG, are both recognized by tRNA (f1Met), a minor N-formyl methionine-specific tRNA, in the tRNA (f1Met)-depleted cells.