Study of the ribosome mRNA-binding region during different stages of translation. I. Functional activity of mRNA analogs, AUGU6 and its benzylidene derivatives, in ribosome-dependent protein synthesis

Hexaribouridylic acid, prepared by digestion of poly(U) with cobra venom endonuclease, and trinucleotide AUG synthesized chemically by triester approach were joined by RNA-ligase to yield a nonaribonucleotide AUGU6 bearing the initiation codon at its 5'-terminus. 2',3'-O-(4-[N-(2-chloro(or hydroxy) ethyl-N-Methylamino])- benzylidene residues were introduced at the 3'-terminus of oligonucleotide AUGU6 and its benzylidene derivatives AUGU6CHRCl or AUGU6CHROH were obtained. The mRNA analogs synthesized were tested for their template activity in the formation of 70S initiation complex. AUGU6, AUGU6CHRC1 and AUGU6CHROH were shown to stimulate factor-dependent binding of fMet-tRNA to ribosomes. The effect of benzylidene fragment on the template activity of AUGU6CHROH in the course of translation process was studied. It was shown that AUGU6CHROH stimulates synthesis of di- and tripeptides with the same efficiency as AUGU6.