Geometry of the first step in the action of ribonuclease-A (in-line geometry-uridine2',3'-cyclic thiophosphate- 31 P NMR).

Advantage was taken of the reversibility of the first step of ribonuclease-A action to synthesize the dinucleoside phosphorothioate Up(S)C from the crystalline isomer of uridine 2',3'-cyclic phosphorothioate [Up(S)] and cytidine. Cyclic phosphorothioate was then reformed from Up(S)C by a nonenzymic reaction known to proceed by an in-line mechanism. The geometry of the enzymic reaction was determined to be in-line by a comparison of the Up(S) product with the Up(S) originally used. By the principle of microscopic reversibility, the geometry of the first step in the action of ribonuclease-A is shown to be in-line.