Interrelation between transfer RNA and amino-acid-activating sites of methionyl transfer RNA synthetase from Escherichia coli.

Binding of tRNA(Met/f) to the monomeric trypsin-modified methionyl-tRNA synthetase turns off the methionine-dependent isotopic ATP--PPi exchange. In the case of the dimeric native methionyltRNA synthetase, one anticooperatively bound tRNA(Met/f) inhibits the exchange by only 50%. These behaviours of tRNA do not require the integrity of the 3'-terminal adenosine. Esterification by methionine of the 3' end of tRNA reinforces the affinity of tRNA(Met/f)for the enzymes. In the case of the native enzyme, due to this effect, a second binding mode for methionyl-tRNA may be demonstrated through the isotopic exchange. This additional binding of tRNA corresponds to the expression of the anticooperatively blocked tRNA binding site. Methionine reverses competitively the reinforcing effect of the esterified methionyl moiety on tRNA binding. It is concluded that after esterification of tRNA, the aminoacyl residue still binds the enzyme, probably within the methionine activating site. The latter behaviour may account for the observation that excess methionine accelerates the aminoacylation turnover rate of tRNA(Met/f).