[Substrate specificity of Aspergillus clavatus intracellular acid RNAase]

Substrate specificity of intracellular acid RNAse from Aspergillus clavatus, has been studied using different RNAs, synthetic polynucleotides and diribonucleoside monophosphates as substrates. The enzyme was shown to be a RNAse, non-specific to the chemical nature of bases adjacent to the disrupted phosphodiesther bonds in the molecules of RNA. It has been demonstrated that the order of nucleotide release from RNA coincides with the order of weakening of the enzyme binding to substrates XpY, depending on the base X. Purine bases increase substrates XpY binding with the enzyme and hamper their splitting. The effect of pyrimidine bases on adsorption and catalytic functions of the enzyme is contrary to that of purine bases cited above.