THE FORMATION OF PARALLEL RNA-RNA DUPLEXES IN-VITRO

Over the years the structural properties of nucleic acids have been of interest, providing data that may be of importance for DNA and RNA or ganization and function in the cell. We have attempted to look for the formation of parallel RNA-RNA duplexes in vitro. RNA molecules compri sing complementary in the same polarity alternating stretches of A and U of increasing length were enzymatically synthesized and annealed in physiological conditions. The fractionation in the denaturing polyacr ylamide gels revealed the formation of two types of full-length parall el RNase A - stable duplexes established either by A-U or by A-A and U -U self pairs. These results suggest novel structural properties of ve rsatile RNA molecules that potentially may be realized in vivo.