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Molecular Biology and Gene Regulation

Variations in the Levels of Chloroplast tRNAs and Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases in Senescing Leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris¹

Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du C.N.R.S., Université Louis Pasteur, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France

The relative amounts of chloroplast tRNAs^Leu, tRNA^Glu, tRNA^Phe, tRNAs^Thr, and tRNA^Tyr and of chloroplastic and cytoplasmic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases were compared in green leaves, yellowing senescing leaves, and N⁶-benzyladenine-treated senescing leaves from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, var Contender). Aminoacylation of the tRNAs using Escherichia coli aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases indicated that in senescing leaves the relative amount of chloroplast tRNA^Phe was significantly lower than in green leaves. Senescing leaves treated with N⁶-benzyladenine contained higher levels of this tRNA than untreated senescing leaves. No significant change in the relative amounts of chloroplast tRNAs^Leu, tRNAs^Thr, and tRNA^Tyr was detected in green, yellow senescing, or N⁶-benzyladine-treated senescing leaves. Relative levels of chloroplast tRNAs were also estimated by hybridization of tRNAs to DNA blots of gene specific probes. These experiments confirmed the results obtained by aminoacylation and revealed in addition that the relative level of chloroplast tRNA^Glu is higher in senescing leaves than in green leaves. Transcription run-on assays indicated that these changes in tRNA levels are likely to be due to a differential rate of degradation rather than to a differential rate of transcription of the tRNA genes. Chloroplastic and cytoplasmic leucyl-, phenylalanyl-, and tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase activities were greatly reduced in senescing leaves as compared to green leaves, whereas N⁶-benzyladenine-treated senescing leaves contained higher enzyme activities than untreated senescing leaves. These results suggest that during senescence, as well as during senescence-retardation by cytokinins, changes in enzyme activities, such as aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, rather than reduced levels of tRNAs, affect the translational capacity of chloroplasts.

¹ C. J. received fellowing support from the government of France (Ministère des Affaires Etrangères).

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