[Effect of synthetic polynucleotides and RNA on poly(C)-dependent poly(G) polymerase activity of Q beta replicase]

The effect of synthetic polynucleotides and phage RNA on poly(C)-dependent synthesis of poly (G) by Qbeta replicase is studied. It is shown that single stranded poly(U) and poly (dT) are strong inhibitors whereas structured polynucleotides poly(A), MS2 RNA as well as double stranded complexes poly(A)-poly(U) and poly(A)-poly(dT) do not affect the synthesis of poly(G). It is suggested that contact region of template with enzyme has single stranded unhelical structure and affinity of polynucleotides to Qbeta replicase is determined by degree of their secondary structure.