The accessibility of phage MS2 RNA to structure specific nucleases in various conditions.

The accessibility of ds- and ss-segments of phage MS2 RNA to ds- and ss-specific nucleases (RNase III, nuclease SV and nuclease S1) was studied. The results show that the RNA has hydrolysis sites for all the nucleases used. These sites are unvariable in a wide range of the conditions (ionic strength, pH, bivalent cations and temperature) and are not changed also after denaturation-renaturation of the RNA. This testifies that the distribution and interactions of ds- and ss-segments in the whole molecule are very specific and stable.