EXTRA STABLE 2′,5′-LINKED RNA LOOPS

Abstract

We prepared hairpins that differ in the connectivity of phosphodiester linkages in the loop (RNA vs 2′, 5′-RNA). We find that the stability of the extra stable RNA hairpin 5′-rGGAC(UUCG)GUCC-3′ is the same as that observed for the hairpin containing a 2′,5′RNA loop, i.e. 5′-rGGAC(UUCG)GUCC-3′ (where UUCG = U_2′p5′U_2′p5′ C_2′p5′G_2′p5′). Also significant is the finding that when the stem is duplex DNA, duplex 2′,5′-RNA, or DNA:2′,5′-RNA, hairpins with the UUCG loop are more stable than those with UUCG loop.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science and Research Council of Canada (NSERC Canada).