Functional defects in transfer RNAs lead to the accumulation of ribosomal RNA precursors

Growth and RNA analysis of strains containing one or four copies of the tRNA^Arg2 gene. (A) Primer extension analysis of RNAs derived from CJ1891 and CJ1892, using a 23S rRNA-specific probe. (Lane 1) CJ1891; (lane 2) CJ1892. The positions of mature (M) and precursor (P) rRNAs are noted, as are the P/M ratios. (B) Complementation of the rRNA processing defects by expression of plasmid-encoded tRNA^Arg2. (Lane 1) HMS174(DE3)/pMPM-T6; (lane 2) HMSdrp/pMPM-T6; (lane 3) HMSdrp/pArg2−arabinose; (lane 4) HMSdrp/pArg2+arabinose. The corresponding P/M ratios are noted. (C) Growth phenotype of strains containing (CJ1892 and HMSdrp) or lacking [CJ1891 and HMS174(DE3)] the argYZQ deletion, incubated at 37°C on LB-agar plates.