title: Scission of RNA by the chemical nuclease of 1,10-phenanthroline-copper ion: preference for single-stranded loops.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Murakawa
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kuwabara
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Nierlich
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sigman
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007763:Lac Operon; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010618:Phenanthrolines; D010957:Plasmids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012345:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific; D012360:RNA, Transfer, Phe; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010618:Phenanthrolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012345:RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific; D012360:RNA, Transfer, Phe; C038556:bis(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(1+) ion