[Study of spatial organization of the RNA of phage MSZ using nucleases specific for the secondary structure]

The limited hydrolisis of bacteriophage MS2 RNA by nuclease S1 and ds-specific snake venom RNase was studied in a wide range of ionic strength, at different pH, after heating and (slow and fast) cooling and at various enzyme-substrate relations. It was shown that the RNA has exposed hydrolisis sites for both nucleases. The localizations of these sites are very specific and are not altered in all conditions studied. The hydrolisis rate was changed in some conditions, at that the fragments patterns in denaturing electrophoresis did not move. It was supposed that the RNA has strongly predetermined and predominant conformation which could not be altered by strong influences.