Activity of Nucleic Acids and Peptides at High Pressure.

Abstract

For last few years we have been interested in high pressure effects on biological molecules especially nucleic acids. We have found that DNA having consecutive pirymidine: purine nucleotide sequences change their conformation from Bto Z-form. Also synthetic oligoribonucleotides change their from A to Z, but at high pressure and in the presence of high salt concentration. Transfer ribonucleic acid specific for phenylalanine can be specifically aminoacylated at high pressure in the absence of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and ATP. tRNA charged at high pressure is a correct substrate for ribosomal protein synthesis and also catalyses peptide synthesis in vitro.