Abstract
Abstract. –MDV‐1 RNA is a sequenced variant of Q/β RNA. This study analyzed the ultraviolet photosensitivity of the RNA with respect to its activity as template for the Q/β replicase reaction. An assay to measure the template activity is described and the quantum yield for inactivation of the template activity is shown to be 1.1 × 10‐3. Both uridine hydrates and pyrimidine dimers were found in the irradiated RNA. 1.4 hydrates were produced per lethal hit while less than 0.2 dimers were present per lethal hit. The production of uridine hydrates paralleled ultraviolet inactivation. It was concluded that hydrates were the significant lesion in irradiated MDV‐1 RNA.
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