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The nucleotide sequences were determined for the 5'-oligonucleotides obtained by complete pancreatic RNase digestion (P25) and complete T1 RNase digestion (T27) of U-2 RNA. Complete digestion of oligonucleotide P25 with snake venom phosphodiesterase produced pm3 2,2,7G, pAm, pUm, and pCp in approximately equimolar ratios. Partial digestion of these oligonucleotides with snake venom phosphodiesterase produced -Um-C-Gp and pAm-Um, indicating the sequence of the 3'-terminal portion of the 5'-oligonucleotide is pAm-Um-C-Gp. The 5'-terminal oligonucleotide did not contain a 5'-phosphate and no free nucleoside was released from the 5' end by venom phosphodiesterase digestion. Since free pm3 2,2,7G was released by digestion with nucleotide pyrophosphatase and limited digestion with snake venom phosphodiesterase, this nucleotide is apparently linked to pAm in a pyrophosphate linkage. Mass spectrometry and thin layer chromatography in borate systems showed the ribose of m3 2, 2, 7G contains no 2'O-methyl residue. Moreover, the finding that the ribose of m3 2, 2, 7G was oxidized by NaIO4 and reduced by KB3H4 in intact U-2 RNA rules out other linkages involving the 2' and 3' positions. Accordingly, it is concluded that the structure of the 5'-terminal pentanucleotide of U-2 RNA is(see article).
Ro-Choi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.