Wheat embryo ribonucleates. X. Metabolism of 3′-hydroxyl termini in the conserved mRNA and tRNA of imbibing wheat embryos

Abstract

There are conserved complements of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA) in dry wheat embryos. Although early labelling of RNA is largely directed toward the synthesis of complete molecules of nascent rRNA and mRNA, there is also selective labelling at 3′-hydroxyl termini in conserved polynucleotides when dry wheat embryos are subjected to short-term (0.5 h) imbibition in a medium that contains tritium-labelled adenosine, guanosine, cytidine, and uridine. Conserved tRNA is the principal mass component in NaCl-soluble RNA (sRNA) and most of the 'rapid labelling' of sRNA (rl-sRNA) is a result of labelling at 3′-hydroxyl termini in conserved tRNA. By contrast, although conserved rRNA is the principal mass component in NaCl-insoluble RNA (iRNA), most of the labelled 3′-hydroxyl termini in 'rapidly labelled' iRNA (rl-iRNA) do not appear to derive from rRNA. Although about 10% of the labelled 3′-hydroxyl termini in rl-iRNA originates in conserved poly(A)-rich mRNA, the available evidence leads to the conclusion that most of the labelled 3′-hydroxyl termini in rl-iRNA originates in an unusual NaCl-insoluble fraction of conserved tRNA. During the course of extended imbibition, between 0.5 and 5 h, there are characteristic changes in the chain lengths and labelling patterns for 3′-hydroxyl terminal poly(A) sequences in mRNA. Analytical and physiological implications of these data are subjects of discussion.