The tRNA(Phe) recognition nucleotides for phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase from an extreme thermophile Thermus thermophilus were investigated. Using yeast tRNA(Phe) T7 transcripts with various point mutations it was shown that four recognition points (G34, A35, A36 from anticodon and A73 from acceptor stem) are important for aminoacylation at 37 degrees C. In the case of the 73rd discriminator base A----U, but not A----C, substitution suppresses aminoacylation. Position 20, which proved to be essential for all phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetases so far studied, is not involved in the recognition of tRNA(Phe) by the T thermophilus enzyme.