Excess of charged tRNA(Lys) maintains low levels of peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase in pth(Ts) mutants at a non-permissive temperature

Cellular changes have been monitored during the suppression, mediated by the overproduction of tRNA(Lys), of thermosensitivity in Escherichia coli strain AA7852 carrying a mutation in peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase (Pth) encoded by the pth(Ts) gene. The presence in AA7852 cells of a plasmid bearing lysV gene helped to maintain low levels of the unstable Pth(Ts) protein and to preserve the viability of the mutant line at 41°C whereas plasmids bearing other tRNA genes were ineffective. At 32°C the excess of tRNA(Lys) did not alter the percentages of the free-, charged- or peptidyl-tRNA(Lys) species compared with those found in strains that did not overproduce tRNA(Lys). At 41°C, however, despite increases in the level of peptidyl-tRNA(Lys), the excess tRNA(Lys) helped to maintain the concentration of charged-tRNA(Lys) at a level comparable with that found in non-overproducer cells grown at a permissive temperature. In addition, the excess tRNA(Lys) at 41°C provoked a reduction in the concentrations of various peptidyl-tRNAs, which normally accumulate in pth(Ts) cells, and a proportional increase in the concentrations of the corresponding aminoacyl-tRNAs. The possible mechanism of rescue due to the overexpression of tRNA(Lys) and the causes of tRNA(Lys) starvation in pth(Ts) strains grown at non-permissive temperatures are considered.