Scission of RNA by the chemical nuclease of 1,10-phenanthroline-copper ion: preference for single-stranded loops

Nucleic Acids Res. 1989 Jul 11;17(13):5361-75. doi: 10.1093/nar/17.13.5361.

Abstract

The scission of RNA by the chemical nuclease activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-copper (OP-Cu) has been studied using a lac mRNA fragment and tRNAphe as substrates. Since the chemical mechanism of scission involves oxidative attack on the ribose, scission is observed at all nucleotides including dihydrouridine and Y-bases. Specificity for single-stranded loop regions is apparent from the similarity of the reactivity of OP-Cu to the single-strand specific reagents dimethyl sulfate and diethyl pyrocarbonate using the fragment of lac mRNA as a substrate. Similar preference is observed in the reaction with tRNA although scission in the helical acceptor stem is also observed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Hydrolysis
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Lac Operon
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Phenanthrolines*
  • Plasmids
  • RNA, Messenger*
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific*
  • RNA, Transfer, Phe*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Substances

  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Phenanthrolines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific
  • RNA, Transfer, Phe
  • bis(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(1+) ion