Two transfer RNA sequences abut the large ribosomal RNA gene in Tetrahymena mitochondrial DNA: tRNA(leu) (anticodon UAA) and tRNA(met) (anticodon CAU).

The sequence of a 1,427 base pair restriction fragment, HaeIII fragment 6, of the ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena mitochondrial DNA, is presented. The first 780 nucleotide sequence aligns well with the terminal segment of the large rDNA sequence of Paramecium mitochondria. Immediately abutting this rDNA termination sequence, a tRNA sequence was found with anticodon UAA for leucine. The derived tRNA sequence is 81 bases long without the 3' CCA end, has a high G + C content of 48.1%, and can be folded into a normal cloverleaf structure with mostly conserved bases and normal stems and loops. The tRNA sequence found at an analogous position of the Paramecium mitochondrial DNA is tRNA(tyr). Following a highly A + T rich sequence of 300 base pairs, another tRNA-like sequence is present; this putative tRNA has only 67 bases with anticodon CAT (Met) and forms standard aminoacyl, anticodon and T psi C stems with a conventional T psi C loop. However, the DHU loop and stem are unusually short and irregular; the base at position 8 is G instead of T; and the base following the anticodon, which is normally a purine, is T. The significance of these tRNA structures is discussed.