Mutagenesis analysis of a self-cleaving RNA.
The hammerhead structural model proposed for sequences that mediate self-cleavage of certain RNAs contains base-paired three stems and 13 conserved bases. Insertion, deletion and base substitution mutations were carried out on a 58 base RNA containing the sequence of the single-hammerhead structure of the plus RNA of the virusoid of lucerne transient streak virus, and the effects on self-cleavage assessed. Results showed that there is flexibility in the sequence requirements for self-cleavage in vitro, but alterations of the conserved sequence or predicted secondary structure generally reduced the efficiency of self-cleavage.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Adelaide, Australia.
C C
CC
Sheldon
R H
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Symons
D001483:Base Sequence; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013604:T-Phages / Q000201:enzymology; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012367:RNA, Viral; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases