Accumulation of 2'-O-methylguanosine deficient tRNATrp in tryptophan limited Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae synthesizes one major tryptophan transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNATrp) species (isoacceptor A) carrying characteristic base modifications. Under tryptophan limited growth conditions wild-type strain X2180-1A exhibited a second important tRNATrp species (isoacceptor B). The total amount of tRNATrp, approximately 2.5 pmol (mg dry wt)-1, stayed essentially constant during amino acid shift-down experiments. The amount of isoacceptor B relative to total tRNATrp was 10 to 15% during amino acid sufficient exponential growth conditions, but increased during tryptophan limitation three- to four-fold. Analysis of the base compositions showed that isoacceptor B differed from isoacceptor A in one respect only: 2'-O-methylguanosine, a modified guanosine base occurring at position 17 of the major isoacceptor A tRNATrp, was not detectable in hydrolysates of purified isoacceptor B. The biological significance of isoacceptor B is discussed.