Transfer RNA in reticulocyte maturation

The disappearance of tRNA during the maturation of rabbit reticulocytes produced under the stress of phenylhydrazine-induced hemolysis was studied. The tRNA content of reticulocytes and of erythrocytes derived from them was compared. The results show that tRNA persists longer after reticulocyte maturation than ribosomes and than the ability to incorporate amino acids into protein. Considerable uniformity of tRNA degradation was noted with about 15% of the tRNA for most amino acids remaining after reticulocyte maturation. The half-life of tRNA in the maturing cells is estimated to be 50–60 h. There is little tRNA lacking the 3′-terminal pCpCpA moiety in cells derived from reticulocytes.