Modified bases in transfer RNA.

ABSTRACT

Transfer RNA is uniquely enriched with modified bases. A large body of information has accumulated about the occurrence, nature and distribution of modified bases in tRNA. But similar investigations on the enzymes involved in this post-transcriptional modification have been hampered by the instability of the enzymes and lack of suitable substrates. The present review summarises briefly, the occurrence and methods of detection of modified bases, the enzymes involved in their formation and also certain suggestive evidence for the role of modification in cellular metabolism.