8-Azaguanine reporter of purine ionization states in structured RNAs.

The fluorescent nucleotide analogue 8-azaguanosine-5'-triphosphate (8azaGTP) is prepared easily by in vitro enzymatic synthesis methods. 8azaGTP is an efficient substrate for T7 RNA polymerase and is incorporated specifically opposite cytosine in the transcription template, as expected for a nucleobase analogue with the same Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding face as guanine. 8-Azaguanine (8azaG) in oligonucleotides also is recognized as guanine during ribonuclease T1 digestion.

Role of an active site adenine in hairpin ribozyme catalysis.

The hairpin ribozyme is a small catalytic RNA that accelerates reversible cleavage of a phosphodiester bond. Structural and mechanistic studies suggest that divalent metals stabilize the functional structure but do not participate directly in catalysis. Instead, two active site nucleobases, G8 and A38, appear to participate in catalytic chemistry.

Role of an active site guanine in hairpin ribozyme catalysis probed by exogenous nucleobase rescue.

The hairpin ribozyme is a small catalytic RNA with reversible phosphodiester cleavage activity. Biochemical and structural studies exclude a requirement for divalent metal cation cofactors and implicate one active site nucleobase in particular, G8, in the catalytic mechanism. Our previous work demonstrated that the cleavage activity that is lost when G8 is replaced by an abasic residue is restored when certain nucleobases are provided in solution.

Complex formation of divalent metal ions with uridine 5'-O-thiomonophosphate or methyl thiophosphate: comparison of complex stabilities with those of the parent phosphate ligands.

The stability constants of the 1:1 complexes formed in aqueous solution between Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, or Cd2+ (M2+) and methyl thiophosphate (MeOPS(2-)) or uridine 5'-O-thiomonophosphate (UMPS(2-)) (PS(2-)=MeOPS(2-) or UMPS(2-)) have been determined (potentiometric pH titrations; 25 degrees C; I = 0.1 M, NaNO(3)). Comparison of these results for M(PS) complexes with those known for the parent M(PO) phosphate species, where PO(2-)=CH(3)OPO(2-)(3) or UMP(2-) (uridine 5'-monophosphate), shows that the alkaline earth metal ions, as well as Mn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ have a higher affinity for phosphate groups than for their thio analogues.

Acid-base and metal ion binding properties of guanylyl(3'-->5')guanosine (GpG-) and 2'-deoxyguanylyl(3'-->5')-2'-deoxyguanosine [d(GpG)-] in aqueous solution.

The acidity constants of guanylyl(3'-->5')guanosine (GpG(-)) and 2'-deoxyguanylyl(3'-->5')-2'-deoxyguanosine [d(GpG)(-)] for the deprotonation of their (N1)H sites were measured by potentiometric pH titrations in aqueous solution (25 degrees C; I = 0.1 M, NaNO(3)). The same method was used for the determination of the stability constants of the 1:1 complexes formed between Mg(2+), Ni(2+), or Cd(2+) (= M(2+)) and (GG-H)(2-), and in the case of Mg(2+) also of (GG-2H)(3-), where GG(-) = GpG(-) or d(GpG)(-).

Stabilities of lead(II) complexes formed in aqueous solution with methyl thiophosphate (MeOPS(2-)), uridine 5'- O-thiomonophosphate (UMPS(2-)) or adenosine 5'- O-thiomonophosphate (AMPS(2-)).

The acidity constants of twofold protonated methyl thiophosphate (MeOPS(2-)) and of monoprotonated uridine 5'- O-thiomonophosphate (UMPS(2-)) have been determined in aqueous solution (25 degrees C; I= 0.1 M, NaNO(3)) by potentiometric pH titration. The stability constants of their 1:1 complexes formed with Pb(2+), i.