An NMR Approach to tRNA Tertiary Structure in Solution

Atomic coordinates of E. Coli tRNA1Val have been generated from the X-ray crystal structure of Yeast tRNAPhe by base substitution followed by idealization. The NMR spectrum of E. Coli tRNA1Val was then calculated using these coordinates and ring current calculations. The similarity between the calculated and observed NMR spectra of this tRNA gives credence to the procedure used previously to compare the solution and X-ray crystal structure of Yeast tRNAPhe and further suggests a strong similarity between the structures of Yeast tRNAPhe and E. Coli tRNA1Val both in solution and in the crystal. The results presented here indicate that a combination of NMR and atomic coordinates generated from a tRNA model may be a powerful procedure for determining three dimensional structure of a tRNA in solution.