Studies on polynucleotides: XLVIII. The in vitro synthesis of a co-polypeptide containing two amino acids in alternating sequence dependent upon a DNA-like polymer containing two nucleotides in alternating sequence

Abstract

The DNA-like polymers, poly d-TC:AG and poly d-TG:AC, which contain in each strand only two bases in alternating sequence, have been used as templates for DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. In this way, four single-stranded long-chain ribopolynucleotides, poly UC, poly AG, poly UG and poly AC containing in every case the two nucleotides in alternating sequence have been prepared. The messenger activity of poly UC in the Escherichia coli cell-free amino acid incorporation system has been studied. The ribopolynucleotide stimulates the incorporation of only two amino acids, serine and leucine, in equimolar amounts. The product of the reaction has been characterized as a co-polypeptide containing serine and leucine in alternating sequence.