tRNA Modification Profiles and Codon-Decoding Strategies in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii

Abstract

While many posttranscriptional modifications in M. jannaschii tRNAs are also found in bacteria and eukaryotes, several that are unique to archaea were identified. By RNA modification mapping, the modification profiles of M. jannaschii tRNA anticodon loops were characterized, allowing a comparative analysis with H. volcanii modification profiles as well as a general comparison with bacterial and eukaryotic decoding strategies. This general comparison reveals that M. jannaschii , like H. volcanii , follows codon-decoding strategies similar to those used by bacteria, although position 37 appears to be modified to a greater extent than seen in H. volcanii .