RNA structural analysis by enzymatic digestion

Methods Mol Biol. 2014:1086:41-52. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-667-2_3.

Abstract

Enzymatic probing is a rapid, straightforward method for determining which regions of a folded RNA are structurally constrained. It can be carried out using very small amounts of material, and is especially suitable for short RNAs. Here we report a protocol that we have found to be useful and readily adaptable to the evaluation of RNAs up to 150-200 nucleotides in length. Considerations for optimization are also included. In brief, the method includes folding end-labeled RNA into its native conformation, partial digestion with structure-sensitive nucleases, and identification of the cleavage sites by electrophoretic separation of the cleavage fragments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / methods
  • Endonucleases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Phosphorylation
  • RNA / chemistry*
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA Folding

Substances

  • RNA
  • Endonucleases