RNA conformational requirements of self-cleavage of hepatitis delta virus RNA.
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA subfragments undergo self-cleavage at varying efficiencies. We have developed a procedure of using repeated cycles of heat denaturation and renaturation of RNA to achieve a high efficiency of cleavage. This effect can also be achieved by gradual denaturation of RNA with heat or formamide. These results suggest that only a subpopulation of the catalytic RNA molecules assumes the active conformation required for self-cleavage. This procedure could be of general use for detecting catalytic RNA activities.
Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Republic of China.
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D002384:Catalysis; D005559:Formamides; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D009694:Nucleic Acid Precursors; D009695:Nucleic Acid Renaturation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
D005559:Formamides; D009694:Nucleic Acid Precursors; D012367:RNA, Viral; C031066:formamide; D008274:Magnesium