title: RNA-RNA noncovalent interactions investigated by microspray ionization mass spectrometry.
abstract: Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is playing an increasing role in the study of noncovalent interactions involving biomolecules. RNA-RNA complexes are important in many areas of biology, including RNA catalysis, RNA splicing, ribosome function, and gene regulation. Here, microelectrospray mass spectrometry (micron ESI-MS) is used to study noncovalent base-pairing interactions between RNA oligonucleotides, an area not previously explored by this technique. Using a set of complementary RNA oligonucleotides, we demonstrate the formation of the expected double-helical RNA complexes composed of three distinct oligonucleotides. The ability to study specific RNA noncovalent interactions by micron ESI-MS has the potential to provide a unique method by which to analyze and assign precise molecular masses to RNA-RNA complexes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Foundation, Rochester MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hoyne
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Veenstra
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naylor
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012313:RNA