INFLUENCE OF P-CHIRALITY OF PHOSPHOROTHIOATE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES ON THE ACTIVITY OF AMV-REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE

The inhibition of reverse transcriptase by phosphorothioate oligonucle otides of predetermined absolute configuration at each internucleotide centre (PS-oligos) was studied in a cell - free system, composed of a n RNA template, a primer oligodeoxynucleotide (PO-oligo) and the AMV o r HIV reverse transcriptase. It was found that the non-antisense inhib ition of the RT enzymes caused by their direct interaction with PS-oli gos depends upon a nucleoside sequence of oligonucleotide as well as u pon the absolute configuration at phosphorus atoms of internucleotide phosphorothioate bonds.