Separation of E. coli tRNA^Tyr precursor RNA from E. coli tRNA by hydroxyapatite chromatography

Escherichia coli tRNA^Tyr precursor RNA can be easily and quickly separated from unfractionated E. coli tRNA and the RNase P cleavage product of the precursor RNA by hydroxyapatite chromatography. The difference in the elution properties of the tRNA^Tyr precursor RNA and the RNase P cleavage product derived from it or the mature tRNA^Tyr is not due only to their differences in molecular weight. The chromatographic properties of the precursor RNA have been exploited to develop a fast method for enriching E. coli RNA preparations for precursor RNA and also a rapid assay for RNase P.