Separation of Met-tRNAf and Met-tRNAm by chromatography on Sepharose 4B columns.

Unfractionated rabbit liver tRNA, charged with [3H]methionine by use of rat liver enzymes, was separated into two [3H5methionine-containing fractions by column chromatography on Sepharose 4B. The two fractions were identified as Met-tRNAMetm and Met-tRNAMetf by (a) their different ability for form a GTP-dependent ternary complex with IF-MP, and (b) the absence of the first fraction after selective charging of the tRNA with E. coli amino acyl tRNA synthetase. The methionine residue was without noticeable influence on the separation.