TRANSFER-RNA AMINOACYLATED AT HIGH-PRESSURE IS A CORRECT SUBSTRATE FOR PROTEIN-BIOSYNTHESIS

tRNA can be aminoacylated specifically with amino acids at high pressu re of 6 kbar (1 bar = 1.013 atm = 0.1 MPa = 10(5) Pa) in the absence o f the specific aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and ATP. In this paper we pre sent new evidence obtained by HPLC chromatography and TLC analysis tha t the esterification reaction under pressure really takes place at the 3' end of the tRNA molecule. If so, tRNA to be aminoacylated undergoe s conformational changes similar to those induced with aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. The most important finding is that aminoacyl-tRNA obtained at high pressure binds to ribosomes and participates in the synthesis of polyphenylalanine in vitro. This is the best proof of proper charg ing of tRNA at high pressure.