title: RNA secondary structure analysis of the packaging signal for Moloney murine leukemia virus.
abstract: We have examined the cis-acting RNA packaging signal (psi) from Moloney murine leukemia virus using a combination of chemical and primary sequence analysis techniques. For our chemical analyses, we used dimethyl sulfate, kethoxal, and 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl)-carbodiimide metho-p-toluene sulfonate as probes for RNA secondary structure. The structural information obtained from these studies was used to constrain computer algorithms for prediction of RNA secondary structure. In addition, we generated and analyzed a phylogenetic comparison of homologous sequences from related retroviruses. From these data, we have developed two models for the RNA secondary structure of the packaging signal psi. Both of these models suggest the presence of secondary structure elements in a region of the psi RNA known to be required for function.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Alford
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Belmont
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002074:Butanones; D003028:CME-Carbodiimide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002234:Carbodiimides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008979:Moloney murine leukemia virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002074:Butanones; D002234:Carbodiimides; D009153:Mutagens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; C074111:N-cyclohexyl-N'-2-morpholinoethyl-carbodiimide-methyl-4-toluolsulfonate; D003028:CME-Carbodiimide; C005135:kethoxal; C007482:dimethyl sulfate