Information is still quite limited concerning the structural requirements in tRNA molecules for their post-transcriptional maturation by base and ribose modification enzymes. To address this question, we have chosen as the model system yeast tRNAAsp that has a known three-dimensional structure and the in vivo modifying machinery of the Xenopus laevis oocyte able to act on microinjected tRNA precursors. We have systematically compared the modification pattern of wild-type tRNAAsp with that of a series of structural mutants (21 altogether) altered at single or multiple positions in the D-, T-and the anticodon branch, as well as in the variable region. The experimental system allowed us to analyze the effects of structural perturbations in tRNA on the enzymatic formation of modified nucleosides at 12 locations scattered over the tRNA cloverleaf. We found that the formation of m1G37 and psi 40 in the anticodon loop and stem and psi 13 in the D-stem, were extremely sensitive to 3D perturbations. In contrast, the formation of T54, psi 55 and m1A58 in the T-loop, m5C49 in the T-stem and m2G6 in the amino acid accepting stem were essentially insensitive to change in the overall tRNA architecture; these modified nucleosides were also formed in appropriate minimalist (stems and loops) tRNA domains. The formation of m2G26 at the junction between the anticodon and the D-stem, of Q34 and manQ34 in the anticodon loop were sensitive only to drastic structural perturbation of the tRNA. Altogether, these results reflect the existence of different modes of tRNA recognition by the many different modifying enzymes. A classification of this family of maturation enzymes into two major groups, according to their sensitivities to structural perturbations in tRNA, is proposed.