Role of histidine transfer ribonucleic acid in regulation of synthesis of histidyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase of Salmonella typhimurium.

The role of histidine transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) in repression of synthesis of histidyl-tRNA synthetase was examined in two strains of Salmonella typhimurium, one of which was a histidine tRNA (hisR) mutant possessing 52% of the wild-type (hisR(+)) histidine tRNA and a derepressed level of the histidine biosynthetic enzymes during histidine-unrestricted growth. Histidine-restricted growth caused a derepression of the rate of formation of histidyl-tRNA synthetase in both strains. In the case of the wild-type strain, addition of histidine to the derepressed culture caused a repression of synthesis of histidyl-tRNA synthetase for at least one generation of growth. In contrast, when histidine was restored to the derepressed hisR mutant culture, synthesis of histidyl-tRNA synthetase was continued at the initial derepressed rate. These results suggest that histidine must be attached to histidine tRNA for repression of synthesis of histidyl-tRNA synthetase.