Zn²⁺ -Promoted Hydrolysis of 3′,5′-Dinucleoside Monophosphates and Polyribonucleotides. The Effect of Nearest Neighbours on the Cleavage of Phosphodiester Bonds

Abstract

Pseudo first-order rate constants for the Zn²⁺ -promoted cleavage of 15 different dinucleoside monophosphates, 4 different ribo homopogmers and RNA III from baker's yeast have been determined. Furthermore, the distribution of various nucleosides at the 3′-and 5′-terminus of the oligomeric hdrolysls products of RNA has been quantified. On these bases, the effect of nearest neighbours on the metal-ion-promoted hydrolysis of the internucleosidic phosphodiester bonds of RNA is discussed.