Novel spermine-amino acid conjugates and basic tripeptides enhance cleavage of the hairpin ribozyme at low magnesium ion concentration

Combinations of the polyamine spermine and magnesium ions synergize to dram atically enhance cleavage of the hairpin ribozyme. Certain synthetic basic tripeptides stimulate hairpin cleavage significantly at limiting magnesium ion concentration, notably the tripeptide Of L-diaminobutyric acid (Dab). O f a range of novel synthetic spermine-amino acid conjugates, L-Dabspermine (but not D-Dab nor other amino acid conjugates) was more effective than spe rmine itself. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.