Fragmented E. coli methionine tRNA f as methyl acceptor for rat liver tRNA methylase: alteration of the site of methylation by the conformational change of tRNA structure resulting from fragmentation

In vitro methylation of E. coli tRNAfMet fragments or their reconstituted molecule by rat liver methylase showed that (1) the whole tRNA molecule was not necessary for recognition by tRNA methylase, and (2) the extent and the site of methylation of fragments differed depending upon the type of fragment used. This indicates that the conformational structure of the methyl acceptor molecule is important for recognition by the tRNA methylase.