A chemogenetic approach to RNA function/structure analysis

Almost two dozen nucleotide analogs have been synthesized with alpha-phosph orothioate-tagged triphosphates and utilized in an interference modificatio n approach termed Nucleotide Analog Interference Mapping. This method has m ade it possible to determine the chemical basis of RNA function and structu re, including the identification of new rules for RNA helix packing, the fu nctional analysis of a binding site for monovalent metal ions within RNA an d the characterization of the catalytic mechanism of RNA enzymes.