Cloning of nematode tRNA genes and their expression in the frog oocyte.

Transfer RNA genes of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have been cloned in E. coli using the plasmid Col E1 as vector. The tRNAs coded by 3 hybrid plasmids were purified by hybridisation of labelled nematode tRNA with the plasmid DNAs. Each plasmid appears to code for a single distinct tRNA species. The expression of the cloned DNAs was analysed in vivo by injection into nuclei of Xenopus laevis oocytes. Evidence is presented which suggests that these nematode tRNA genes are accurately transcribed and processed in frog oocytes. Analysis of one hybrid plasmid shows that a 300 base pair DNA fragment contains both the structural gene and those regions required for its transcription in vivo. The results show that cloned eukaryotic DNAs from a heterologous source can be tested for functional gene activity in X. laevis oocytes.