Structural specificity of nuclease from wheat chloroplasts stroma

A single-strand-specific nuclease from wheat chloroplasts (ChS nuclease) was tested as a tool for RNA secondary and tertiary structure investigations, using yeast tRNA(Phe) and yeast tRNA(Asp) as models. In tRNA(Phe) the nuclease introduced main primary cleavages at positions U33, A35 and A36 in the anticodon-loop and G18 and G19 in the D-loop. In tRNA(Asp) the main primary cleavages occurred at positions U33, G34 and U35 in the anticodon-loop and the lower one at position C20:1 in the D-loop. No primary cleavages were observed within the double-stranded stems. Because ChS nuclease has (i) a low molecular weight, (ii) a wide pH range of action (5.0 to 7.5) (iii) no divalent cation requirement in the reaction mixture and (iv) can be obtained as a pure protein in rather large quantities it appeared to be a very good tool for secondary and tertiary structural studies of RNAs.