Despite the prokaryotic origins of chloroplasts, a plant chloroplast tRNA precursor is processed in a homologous in vitro system by a pathway distinct from that observed in Escherichia coli, but identical to that utilized for maturation of nuclear pre‐tRNAs. The mature tRNA 5′ terminus is generated by the site‐specific endonucleolytic cleavage of an RNase P (or P‐type) activity. The 3′ end is likewise produced by a single precise endonucleolytic cut at the 3′ terminus of the encoded tRNA domain. This is the first complete structural characterization of an organellar tRNA processing system using a homologous substrate. In contrast to eubacterial RNase P, chloroplast RNase P does not appear to contain an RNA subunit. The chloroplast activity bands with bulk protein at 1.28 g/ml in CsCI density gradients, whereas E.coli RNase P bands as ribonucleoprotein at 1.73 g/ml. Chloroplast RNase P activity survives treatment with micrococcal nuclease (MN) at levels 10‐ to 100‐fold higher than those required to totally inactivate the E.coli enzyme. The chloroplast system is sensitive to a suppression of tRNA processing, caused by binding of inactive MN to pre‐tRNA substrate, which is readily overcome by addition of carrier RNA to the assay.

Inhibition of an RNA processing reaction after treatment with the Ca2(+)-dependent micrococcal nuclease (MN) is often used as a criterion for the presence of a required RNA or ribonucleoprotein component in the system. Following MN digestion, the nuclease is inactivated with EGTA and radiolabeled substrate is added to assay for remaining RNA processing activity. We found previously that inhibition of RNA processing by MN need not involve RNA hydrolysis: EGTA-inactivated MN can suppress RNA processing if the assay is performed in the absence of carrier RNA. We now demonstrate both by native gel electrophoresis and by nitrocellulose filter retention that EGTA-inactivated MN forms a complex with free RNA which can be dissociated by addition of synthetic polynucleotides or heparin. In the absence of Ca2+, nuclease binds to precursor tRNA with an apparent KD congruent to 1.4 x 10(-6) M, comparable to its reported affinity for DNA. In an assay for endonucleolytic tRNA maturation, inactivated MN bound to radiolabeled pre-tRNA physically blocks the sites of endonuclease cleavage and prevents tRNA processing. We call this phenomenon 'substrate masking'. Addition of excess carrier RNA competes with pre-tRNA for MN binding and restores normal processing.