Presence and function of sulur-containing transfer ribonucleic acid of Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) was analyzed for the occurrence of thionucleotides by in vivo labeling with (35)S and fractionation by methylated albumin kieselguhr column chromatography. Alkaline hydrolysates of tRNA were also examined by column chromatography and paper electrophoresis, and the amino acid-accepting ability of thionucleotide-containing tRNA was tested after iodine oxidation. The results showed that B. subtilis tRNA contains 4-thiouridylate, a second nucleotide with properties similar to 2-thiopyrimidine, and a third unidentified thionucleotide. The amino acid-accepting ability for serine, tyrosine, lysine, and glutamic acid was markedly inhibited after oxidation of the tRNA with iodine, suggesting the presence of thionucleotides in these tRNA species. This inhibition could be reversed by thiosulfate reduction. The iodine treatment totally inactivated all lysine tRNA species, partially inactivated the serine tRNA species, and did not affect the accepting ability for valine. A comparison of tRNA from cells in the log and stationary phases and from spores revealed similar iodine inactivation patterns in all cases. The thionucleotide content in B. subtilis tRNA differed from that in Escherichia coli, both in extent and in distribution. A possible function of the thionucleotides in tRNA is discussed.