Phenanthroline-Cu(II) cleavage as a probe of rRNA structure

Chemical cleavage is developing into a powerful tool for analysis and chara cterization of nucleic acids. Phenanthroline-Cu(ll) cleavage has been used extensively for studies of DNA for the last two decades, but recently has b een applied to structural studies of RNA as well. This approach has been us ed to study the structure and structural changes occurring in ribosomal RNA within the ribosomes. In this article we discuss the mechanism by which ph enanthroline cleaves, the applications possible using this approach, and th e results that can be obtained. Protocols for use of phenanthroline are out lined as well. (C) 2001 Academic Press.