The 3′-terminal nucleotide sequence ( n = 16) of bacteriophage MS2 RNA

Abstract

1. Intoduction The 3’-terminal nucleotide sequence of viral RNA is of particular interest. Indeed, as replication proceeds in an antiparallel direction, it is likely that the former region contains the recognition signal required for specific interaction with the viral RNA polymerase. Alternatively, or in addition, one may hope to find a termination signal for protein synthesis for the cistron nearest the 3’end of the molecule, in casu RNA poly- merase [ 1,2]. De Wachter and Fiers [3] have previously reported that MS2 RNA ends in (G) U-U-A-C-C-A-C-C- C-A, and the same sequence was confirmed for the bacteriophage f2 RNA [4,5] and R17 RNA [5], which are serologically closely related to MS2 RNA. Bac- teriophage QP RNA has a very different 3’-terminal sequence (5,6]. All four sequences, however, share