Biopolymers and cell. 2003; 19 (2): 151 - 156

Participation of nitrogen bases in the tertiary folding of tRNA^Leu from Thermus thermophilus

O. P. Kovalenko, I. A. Kriklivyi, M. A. Tukalo

Reactivity of bases in tRNA^Leu  from T. thermophilus has been studied by chemical modification methods. Obtained results suggest that molecules of tRNA^Leu have a canonical L-form in solution. Triple interactions (8—14)-21, (13—22)-9 and (15—48)-20a arc observed in the core. The latter two interactions represent the characteristic feature of the class II tRNA tertiary structures. Different reactivity of bases IS and 21 in tRNA^Leu and tRNA^Ser from T. thermophilus indicates differences in the core tertiary structure of these tRNAs.