Antigenomic Hepatitis delta virus ribozymes self-cleave in 18 M formamide.
The ribozymes derived from Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA appear unique in their sequence requirements for self-cleavage. While truncating the 1679 nucleotide antigenomic HDV RNA, we have characterized the cleavage requirements of a number of ribozymes of intermediate length. Two of these, containing 186 and 106 HDV nucleotides respectively, cleaved to completion in the presence of 18 M formamide. The 186 nucleotide ribozyme also cleaved to completion in 10 M urea. Removal of an additional 10 nts from the 3' terminus of the 106 nt ribozyme resulted in a loss of the ability to cleave in high concentrations of the denaturants. The interaction of nucleotides near the cleavage site with a sequence within this 10 base region may confer unusual stability on these ribozymes.
Smith
J B
JB
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Dinter-Gottlieb
G
G
D001483:Base Sequence; D005559:Formamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D005559:Formamides; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; C031066:formamide; D012313:RNA