Replication of RNA viruses. V. Template activity of synthetic ribopolymers in the Q-beta RNA polymerase reaction.

Abstract
Ribo-homopolymers and ribocopolymers, in addition to Q[beta] RNA, act as template in the reaction catalyzed by the Q[beta] RNA polymerase. Synthesis occurred only if the polymer contained cytosine as one of the bases and GTP as substrate. The product of the reaction appeared to have a base composition complementary to that of the template and contained GTP as a 5[image]-triphosphate terminus. These findings suggest that the specificity of the Q[beta] polymerase for template includes a requirement for a particular nucleotide sequence containing cytidylate to direct the initiation of synthesis with GTP, and that the mechanism of the reaction involves base pairing of the type specified by the Watson and Crick model.