Similarities and differences in tRNA identity between Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae: evolutionary conservation and divergence.

Identity elements, which allow correct recognition of tRNAs by their cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, have been well elucidated in Escherichia coli to begin to see a pattern for tRNA recognition. We examined the identity elements of several tRNA species from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Thermus thermophilus using in vitro transcripts. Comparison of identity elements among different organisms indicates not only conservation but also evolutionary divergence of tRNA recognition.