The complex between ribosomal proteins and aminoacyl-tRNA: the interactions and hydrolytic activities are not confined to the proteins L2 and L16 of Escherichia coli ribosomes.

The capacity of some Escherichia coli (E. coli) ribosomal proteins to bind to tRNA and to hydrolyse their aminoacylated derivatives has been analysed. The following results were obtained: (1) The basic proteins L2, L16 and L33 and S20 bound f[3H]Met-tRNA to a similar extent as the total proteins from 30 S (TP30) or 50 S (TP50) when tested by nitrocellulose filtration, in contrast to the more acidic proteins L7/L12 and S8. (2) The proteins of the peptidyltransferase centre, L2 and L16, showed no distinct specificity, binding various charged tRNAs from E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). (3) A number of isolated ribosomal proteins hydrolysed aminoacyl-tRNA as assessed by trichloroacetic acid precipitation, in contrast to the TP30 and TP50. (4) The loss of radiolabel from Ac[14C]Phe-tRNA and from [14C]tRNA in the presence of these proteins could not be prevented by RNasin, a ribonuclease inhibitor, whereas that mediated by a sample of non-RNase-free bovine serum albumin was inhibited. (5) When double-labelled, Ac[3H]Phe-[14C]tRNA was incubated with L2 both radiolabels were lost, indicating that this potential candidate for a peptidyltransferase enzyme does not specifically cleave the ester bond between the aminoacyl residue and the tRNA.