Spontaneous rearrangements in RNA sequences

The ability of RNAs to spontaneously rearrange their sequences under physio logical conditions is demonstrated using the molecular colony technique, mh ich allows single RNA molecules to be detected provided that they are ampli fiable by the replicase of bacteriophage Q beta, The rearrangements are Mg2 +-dependent, sequence-non-specific, and occur both in trans and in cis at a rate of 10(-9) h(-1) per site, The results suggest that the mechanism of s pontaneous RNA rearrangements differs from the transesterification reaction s earlier observed in the presence of Q beta replicase, and have a number o f biologically important implications. (C) 1999 Federation of European Bioc hemical Societies.