From a comparative study of aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) formation stimulated by polyamines or by Mg2+, it is shown that both reactions have the same requirements for adenosine triphosphate, tRNA, and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Reaction kinetics are similar in both reactions. The same tRNA is aminoacylated in the presence of either spermine of Mg2+. Aminoacyl-tRNA formed in the presence of polyamines can be a donor of amino acids in polypeptide synthesis. The Mg2+ requirement of aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) formation can be replaced by polyamines, such as spermine, spermidine, and putrescine (8 to 20). In the aminoacyl-tRNA formation stimulated by polyamines, we have found that amino acid-dependent PPI-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) exchange, formation of amino acid hydroxamate, and formation of aminoacyl-adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-enzyme complex do not occur, although aminoacyl-tRNA formation does occur (7, 7a, 22). These findings suggest that polyamines cannot satisfy the Mg2+ requirement of the first reaction of aminoacylation: amino acid + ATP + enzyme aminoacyl-AMP-enzyme + PP,; but can satisfy the second reaction: aminoacyl-AMP-enzyme + tRNA = aminoacyl-tRNA + AMP + enzyme. If polyamines are ineffective in the first reaction, the question arises as to whether aminoacyl-tRNA formed in the presence of polyamines is the same as that formed in the presence of Mg2+. The present study was carried out to answer this question. MATERIALS AND METHODS Preparation and purification of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1) was prepared as described previously (20). The enzyme was purified further by hydroxylapatite and diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography. The hydroxylapatite IPresent address: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,