Photocleavage mapping of
the ethidium-binding sites in R1.1 RNA. Laser irradiation and RT–PE
analysis were performed as described in Materials and Methods. Irradiation
was for 25 min. (A) RT–PE analysis of
the irradiated R1.1 RNA–EB complex, as revealed by phosphorimaging.
The complete experiments are shown in lanes 3 and 4 (40 and 5 min
reaction times, respectively). The asterisks indicate the main positions
of EB-dependent photocleavage [A62 and A58; see (B)].
The control experiments are shown in lanes 1, 2, 5 and 6. Lane 1,
analysis of R1.1 RNA irradiated in the absence of EB; lane 2, analysis
of R1.1 RNA and EB with no irradiation; lanes 5 and 6, analysis
of R1.1 RNA in the absence of EB or irradiation at two reactions
times (40 and 5 min, respectively); lanes 7–10, PE reactions
carried out in the presence of each of the four dideoxynucleoside
5′-triphosphates; lane 11, position
of the RT primer. (B) Diagram of R1.1 RNA showing
the positions of the two ethidium-binding sites (indicated by stippled
bars). The dotted line connecting C27 and G57 indicates a tentative
hydrogen bonding interaction stabilized by ethidium binding (see
Discussion). The RT primer is shown bound to its complementary sequence
at the 3′-end of R1.1 RNA.