title: The effect of secondary structure on cleavage of the phosphodiester bonds of RNA.
abstract: This review discusses the effects the secondary structure of an RNA molecule has on the inherent reactivity of its phosphodiester bonds, and on the catalytic activity of metal ion-based cleaving agents. The basic principles of the intramolecular transesterification of RNA phosphodiester bonds, particularly cleavage, are first briefly described. Studies of the structural effects on the cleavage, in the absence and in the presence of metal ion catalysts, are then reviewed, and the sources of the reactivity differences observed in different structures are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mikkola
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaukinen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lönnberg
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002384:Catalysis; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D004951:Esterification; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012313:RNA; D012343:RNA, Transfer