Conformational study of low molecular weight RNAs in solution by fluorescent probe

Pseudouridine psi 73 in yeast 5.8S RNA was modified with 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin(BMC). Temperature dependence of fluorescence intensity was measured and it was compared with UV-thermal melting curve. The region around psi 73 melts partially. Fluorescence intensity changes by titration with Mg2+ and it quenches largely by added iodide ion. The results are compared with those of BMC-modified psi 55 of tRNAPhe and psi 50 of 5S RNA reported in previous paper1-4.