MINI-REVIEW: Dimer Formation by tRNAs

N. S. Kholod

Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova 32, Moscow, 117984 Russia; fax: (095) 135-1405; E-mail: xolod@imb.imb.ac.ru

Received May 20, 1998; Revision received December 7, 1998

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Available data on formation of dimers and other oligomers by "mature" tRNAs and the transcripts of their genes show that the dimers may be formed in vitro during the purification of individual tRNAs as well as on heating and subsequent cooling of tRNA preparations. The functional activity of dimers varies for different tRNAs. Structural analysis of tRNAs that are able or unable to form dimers suggests the importance of the hairpin melting temperature for dimer formation. Pathways of dimer formation and specific structural features of tRNA dimers are discussed.

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KEY WORDS: tRNA, dimers, tRNA complexes, tRNA gene transcripts

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