Mitochondrial methionyl-tRNAfMet formyltransferase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: gene disruption and tRNA substrate specificity.

Initiation of protein synthesis in bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts involves a formylated methionyl-tRNA species. Formylation of this tRNA is catalyzed by a methionyl-tRNA(f)(Met) formyltransferase (formylase). Upon inactivation of the gene encoding formylase, the growth rate of Escherichia coli is severely decreased.