SYNTHESIS OF HOMOPOLYRIBONUCLEOTIDES USIN G POLYNUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHORYLASE FROM A THERMOPHILIC MICROORGANISM IN THE PRESENCE OF SYNTHETIC POLYCATION

The effect of the poly-N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridine cation (PEVP) on the sy nthesis of polyguanylic and polycytidylic acids catalyzed by polynucle otide phosphorylase (PNP) from Thermus thermophilus was studied. An ab ility of PEVP to play a role of PNP's cofactor instead of Mg2+ was fou nd. The presence of PEVP led to changes in the molecular weight distri bution of the synthesized polyribonucleotides resulting in a higher co ntent of heavier high-molecular products.