Acceptor activity of hypermethylated E. coli tRNAf-Met.

The acceptor activity of normal E. coli tRNA(Met) (f) was compared with that of a preparation with surplus methyl groups introduced by a crude methylase preparation from rat hepatoma. No changes in charging were detected when the aminoacylation was carried out in a homologous system. The data indicate that neither the surplus methyl groups by themselves, nor the eventual changes in spatial arrangement are essential for charging of E. coli tRNA(Met) (f).