CLEAVAGE OF RNA BY HYBRIDASE .5. COMPLEMENTATION FIDELITY OF CLEAVAGE

Studies were carried out on the efficiency of hybridase cleavage of RNA in perfect and imperfect hybrid duplexes consisting of three 'components: 1) individual RNA or polyribonucleotides; 2) synthetic complementary oligodeoxyribonucleotides; 3) Escherichia coli RNase H. In most experiments, the RNA was hydrolyzed predominantly in perfect hybrid duplexes formed from the RNA target and the complementary oligonucleotide probes. A number of imperfect hybrid duplexes containing a central pair of noncomplementary bases were found in which efficient hybridase cleavage of RNA also occurred.