New intron-containing human tRNA^Leu genes

Authors:

• Urszula Karwowska,
• Zofia Szweykowska-Kulińska

Abstract

Three new human nuclear tRNA^Leu genes have been isolated and sequenced using the PCR technique. Two of them represent genes containing a CAA anticodon and both contain introns of 22 nucleotides in length but differing in sequence. Intron-containing prolongated anticodon stems can be folded into a secondary structure similar to that of yeast pre-tRNA^Leu. The evolutionary conserved secondary structure suggests the same role of intron sequences in the human and yeast pre-tRNA^Leu maturation pathway.