There are four human skin RNases (i.e., RNases 1, 4, 5, and 7), all of which belong to the RNase A superfamily.  Previous studies have demonstrated that human skin RNases specifically cleave single-stranded cytosine residues of RNA.  The aim of this study was to investigate whether human skin RNases can cleave intercalated motifs (i-motifs) of RNA, which are four-stranded quadruplex structures formed by cytosine-rich RNA sequences under slightly acidic, neutral, or even physiological pH conditions.  In an i-motif, each protonated cytosine in one strand pairs with an unprotonated cytosine in another strand via three hydrogen bonds.  The author used capillary electrophoresis to study the interactions between human skin RNases and several different RNA i-motifs.

Can human skin RNases cleave RNA i-motifs?

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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